Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

No. The process of rolling out Supplementary Estimates, totalling €1.6 billion, commences today. Undoubtedly, moneys for education services, An Garda Síochána and so on are necessary and welcome. We should not, however, in this of all years, proceed in the absence of a debate in this Chamber because this is the last year of the Supplementary Estimates process. Year-on-year budgets are introduced and Supplementary Estimates are later provided to plug identified gaps. What the Government proposes to do in the budgetary cycle when the Supplementary Estimates process is no longer available to it is a serious matter that requires debate and it would be remiss of us as parliamentarians to let it pass.

On the Planning and Development (Urgent Social Housing Supply) Policy Directive 2015, I can only assume that it refers to the modular housing proposal. Again, it is a new departure in social housing provision. We are told that it is an emergency measure, around which many of us have got our heads on the basis that providing modular housing versus bed and breakfast and hotel room accommodation is the lesser of two evils, but it is far from the ideal solution. The concern is that this will become the face of social housing provision in the State. Again, this matter is worthy of consideration and debate in this Chamber.

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