Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I recognise that there is huge pressure, in particular on some local authorities. I will ensure in the allocation of funding that we are aware of the local authorities that have the most pressing needs. We are recommencing a reconstruction programme. The fact that public capital budgets were cut to such an extent in recent years because of the recession and the economic collapse has meant that the amount of housing available for social housing by means of the previous system of construction has not been available to us and we have had to use methods such as leasing, which addresses immediate problems for families. However, we are returning to construction.

There is no doubt we have to use every measure we can irrespective of whether that involves getting NAMA units. The funding I will be announcing for the voids programme will bring back many local authority houses that are lying idle because they need significant work done to them. We are using every measure we can to address the problem which is acute in certain local authority areas.

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