Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, but the problem is that she is only scratching the surface. There is a major housing crisis. The Minister said 185 council houses were built last year. There are more than 100,000 people on the waiting list. Housing need has doubled. In County Laois the housing waiting list has more than doubled over the last four years. Fewer than 500 NAMA properties have been developed. Private rents are increasing. Some of the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, tenants who rely on social leasing are being moved on because landlords decide they want to end the contract. There is a major housing need. Dublin City Council built only 29 houses last year although it has a waiting list of 16,000.

I want the Minister to view this differently. She might have a job convincing her partners in the Government, but back in the Marian year, under her party, many council houses were built. I want the Minister to consider the economics. In County Laois, for example, I estimate that the amount of rent revenue coming in will be almost €5 million this year. The amount spent on housing maintenance is €700,000. Local authority or council housing does not have to be a drag on the economy or on local authority budgets. House building is cheap now. I want the Minister to view this differently. We need a significant house building programme.

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