Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to report to the Deputy that over 200 construction sites have been approved in various local authority areas throughout the country and more will be approved. In the next few weeks submissions will be made by the approved housing bodies with the support of local authorities. They will receive further approval for construction. As the Deputy knows from his background in this area, when construction projects are approved, they have to go through the Part 8 planning system. That process is already under way. They then have to be tendered for by contractors. Local authorities are reporting that many contractors have been engaged. The works can then commence on site. We are starting to see them commencing. I have opened a few around the country, as has the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, and we expect to open more in the coming months. The Deputy is right when he suggests we cannot be over-dependent on a single sector. However, that is the problem we have inherited and are dealing with. By making legislative changes and providing additional budgets, we are trying to bring a multifaceted approach to the solution to this problem. I was at a meeting yesterday that was attended by Ministers from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. They are experiencing the same problems that we are experiencing. They are looking at our strategy of developing innovative ways to deliver new housing as quickly as possible, for example, by using public private partnerships and working with approved housing bodies. The Deputy is right when he says this will not happen overnight. We are doing everything in our power to deliver housing as soon as possible.

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