Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reference from the e-mail mentioned by the Deputy has been acknowledged by the Secretary General, and he has apologised and stated that it was inappropriate. However, I again refer the Deputy to the facts presented by the Dublin housing supply and co-ordination task force and supported by the Housing Agency. We are emerging from a legacy of a devastated economy and construction sector, with house building having been essentially wiped out in this country for a number of years. Now we must get it back to sustainable levels through the Construction 2020 strategy, supported by analysis and research from the Housing Agency, by the Dublin task force in Dublin and by proper planning regulation, which will be further enhanced by the forthcoming planning Bill. We are working towards having a sustainable sector, not one that will go through boom and bust, as was the case in the past, but one that will contribute to our economy in a sustainable manner, supply houses where they are most needed and build the right types of house in the right places. The data on the Dublin housing supply that has been published is the most recent and up-to-date information available.

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