Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some Deputies are speaking as if there are conspiracy theories and that the Government has a hidden agenda. I and many backbenchers in the Government come from working class areas and represent the very people about whom they speak.

We are working day in, day out trying to assist the very same people in meeting the housing need that they have. We are not some kind of alien Deputies on this side of the House. We have clinics and backgrounds very similar to those of the Deputies opposite but we deal with matters in a realistic fashion. We are dealing with a legacy of problems that many would argue is a perfect storm in terms of housing provision in this country. Deputies are correct in that we have not been building local authority housing for many years. This Government, and specifically my Department, has ring-fenced funds to build local authority houses directly for the first time in years. I do not see that being welcomed here, although councillors from Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and the Independents are welcoming the projects going ahead. That has not been mentioned in the House this evening.

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