Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week, the House passed Second Stage of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015. It will have a negligible impact on the social housing crisis. The Government has also planned a planning and development (No.1) Bill to support the actions envisaged in Construction 2020. The enormity of the social housing problem is most acute in the greater Dublin area. In Kildare, there are over 6,000 people on the waiting list. How is it, in the context of the legislation, that in a place like County Kildare I cannot say that even one new social house will be built in 2015? A total of 70 houses may be purchased following the actions of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly. Each, however, requires individual approval from the Department.

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