Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government recognises the challenge of providing housing units. The housing shortage exists for a reason: the policy of previous Governments was to abdicate responsibility for direct provision of local authority houses. In tandem, the problem was exacerbated when the Part V element of private developments, which was intended to address many of the housing gaps, failed to deliver the numbers sought due to the economic crash.

That is why the Government is now giving this matter its full attention. As the Minister, Deputy Kelly, previously outlined, a comprehensive social housing strategy is being prepared as we speak, it will be adopted over the coming weeks and will be published at that stage. There will be a number of responses within that strategy. Direct provision of local authority houses and other funding models, perhaps like those the Deputy mentioned, will all be examined. The real estate investment trust, whereby long-term landlords invest in properties, will also be examined. That has been seen as a successful model in other countries like Canada.

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