Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a combination of things involved. The Deputy refers to returning to large-scale building. There are processes to be followed in that regard in terms of planning permission, site acquisition, site preparation and demolitions, in some cases. As the Minister of State pointed out this morning, for the first time in quite a number of years there has been a return to direct build in the case of social housing. Admittedly, it is not of the scale we would like to see in trying to catch up. NAMA has a very substantial land bank in Dublin and other locations, some of which has been offered for acquisition for direct build. The question of the mix, design and type of houses one should provide arises, as does the question of the rent cap, to which I have referred. The Deputy referred to buying houses. The Minister of State has already pointed out that a couple of hundred houses are being revamped and brought back into commission quickly. It is a contradiction in terms of the kind of city Dublin is. Many regard it as being one of the outstanding cosmopolitan cities in Europe and beyond, yet one finds places boarded up that should not be. Obviously, there are particular reasons this happens. We discussed the matter with the Dublin city manager last week at the Cabinet sub-committee and there is serious intent to try to deal with it in the best way possible. What is the bottom line? The bottom line is the Government's statement to eliminate homelessness by 2016. Obviously, we do not have any time to waste. I thank the Deputy for her question.

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