Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would have advocated for 0% but I accept the fact we had to do something. I applaud the fact the Minister of State allowed local authorities to purchase, long-term lease or build houses. The sad fact is that in Kildare no social housing is being built at the moment; it is being purchased. When local authorities are purchasing houses, it makes it difficult for people with families and first-time buyers to buy them. They are in competition with the local authority. I plead with the Minister of State to write to the local authorities and get them to put Part 8 schemes in place on whatever lands they have as quickly as possible so that social housing is on stream.

I also find it extremely difficult to understand the turnaround of houses which have been left vacant. The Acting Chairman, Deputy Durkan, will know the housing estate in Derrinturn where there has been three boarded-up houses for the past six months. The local authorities have not moved quick enough. It takes only four weeks to turn around a house in a situation such as that one.

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