Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I fully agree with what Deputy Costello has outlined. I also extend sympathy to the family whose house went on fire. It is an example of such a strong community on the northside of the city and the same sentiment is evident in the strong community in my own area.

This matter can do reputational damage to the voluntary housing sector. We certainly want to work with it in partnership to supply good quality social housing. Deputy Costello is quite correct. The State must move to protect the €17 million that has been invested by it.

It is intolerable that the units are empty at a time when people are living on the streets. It is at the top of the agenda of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, to ensure the homes are allocated and not just as a Christmas present; the allocation should take place this week. I cannot understand why an agreement cannot be reached at Friday’s meeting with the voluntary body. The housing agency in question knew the terms and conditions when it accepted the money to build the units and now it must deliver. Most voluntary housing agencies with which I have worked have been extremely honourable and have delivered on their commitments. The housing agency involved in the development under discussion must now deliver on its commitment this Friday in order that the commitments that were made to people in 2006 in Deputy Joe Costello’s constituency are honoured. The situation is intolerable, wrong and unacceptable. If there is an agreement on Friday with the voluntary housing agency in question, I will work very closely with the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, on the matter.

As Deputy Joe Costello outlined, the archbishop has a moral obligation to bring pressure to bear also. An agreement was made that the 99 units would be delivered and they were paid for. People have been given the number of the house which has been allocated to them, yet they have been left waiting. The Government has lived up to its side of the bargain and delivered the money. The Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, announced today that €3.8 billion would be allocated to social housing.

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