Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to be able to speak about this matter. I totally agree with Deputy Costello's earlier comments that what the council did was very shortsighted.

In 2014 more than €640 million has already been allocated for housing with €334 million being given in rent allowance. I do not think it is right that anybody should be blackmailed into handing out more money to cross the palms of greedy landlords. In March the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government announced the approval of 56 social housing construction projects with an overall value of €68 million for the local authority.

I am delighted Deputy Ó Snodaigh has come into the Chamber because he will know of the good news in Dublin South Central. Last week a new 75-unit development was opened in Thornton Heights which was long awaited. There is an emphasis on new people coming to Inchicore to live, all of them very welcome. Another 36 units in one of the apartment blocks beside it are being given over. There are 19 new units in Bluebell being given over for local authority housing and they may be managed by the council, but we are not sure about that yet. In Heuston South Quarter 16 units have been acquired for people to be managed by the city council and Circle Voluntary Housing Association. In Herberton alone 40 units have been acquired for the de-tenanting of Dolphin House until development starts there.

8 o’clock

In Herberton, a further 24 units will be purchased and managed through funding itself. In Camac Crescent, Inchicore, 20 units have been acquired under leasing by the National Association of Building Co-operatives, NABCO. Moreover, on James's Street, 22 units have been acquired under leasing for Clúid Housing Association and Simon housing association. In St. Catherine's Gate, 22 units are being acquired by Clúid Housing Association. The council has purchased three second-hand houses, two of which are occupied while the other is being refurbished at present and there are more on the list. In addition, as Members are aware, the St. Teresa's Gardens complex is being de-tenanted and money has been allocated by the Government to build new units there. Three of the original flat blocks in the complex are being refurbished for accommodation for those who wish to stay in the area and who may wish to transfer into the new building when it happens. In further good news, the number of housing units refurbished in Dublin South Central from January 2014 to date is 158, of which 137 are currently occupied. While this is good news, all Members, including Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I, are aware that many people still are coming into their clinics on a daily basis to inquire about housing. They are now getting into a state of actually being desperate. Members must reconsider how they will quantify and make available proper housing units, by which I do not mean single rooms or bedsits, but proper housing for families.

See this speech in context