Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the initiative taken by the Ceann Comhairle in putting this committee in place. It is an example of how this new and dispersed Dáil can have the desired effect. The recommendations of the Dáil reform committee outlined by the Ceann Comhairle also augur well for this committee. I welcome the fact that it has a closed timeframe, which will allow it to make meaningful suggestions and proposals and report back to the Dáil, which in turn will report to the Minister, whomever that may be.

This can prove the potential of this Dáil in that despite its difficulty in appointing a Taoiseach and subsequently a government, it has the capacity by virtue of the committee system and the willingness of those participating in these committees to make meaningful proposals and solutions that can address what is the greatest challenge facing this country. It is such a challenge that it is right that it be declared an emergency and that space and time be allowed to create meaningful legislation to give effect to many of the proposals that I am sure will emanate from this process. Like many others, I believe that in view of the various issues associated with housing and homelessness, there has to be a holistic approach to addressing them in a way which will have the desired effect across the area of public and private housing and the rental sector.

With regard to public housing, the programme and the strategy initiated by the Government over two years ago referred to the provision of approximately 35,000 social housing units. The Department officials told us during the course of our discussions in recent weeks that only 12,000 of those are to be direct builds by local authorities. That is neither efficient nor sufficient and it must be addressed. The length of time for the process, from the initial approval to construction, is far too tedious and slow. There are many schemes that have been announced and which are progressing through various stages over the last two years, yet no ground has been broken. The Department officials tell us that the number of stages in this process has been reduced from eight to four. It may be reduced further in order to have the desired effect. In our manifesto, we referred to the provision of approximately 45,000 units and those extra 10,000 units, compared to the strategy the Government announced two years ago, would be in the local authority direct builds sector. We would improve on that by seeking to bring the additional number up to 22,000 units while improving on deliverability and the methods of deliverability in order for the desired results to come on stream much more quickly and efficiently.

I ask that the committee should consider other proposals, such as the commitment by the Government in regard to NAMA-developed housing developments over the course of the next two years. This provides that 10% of these will be designated as social and affordable housing. That must be improved and increased to at least 20%. The Minister mentioned that he has made good progress in that regard and that the officials are giving him information to suggest this is happening. It is contrary to information I have obtained in recent days and weeks from FOI facts and figures provided by local authorities throughout the country. The figure stands at 2,500. When the Minister says that 3,000 have been reinstated in the last year that may well be the case, but it may be just paint jobs or wallpapering that has been done. I do not say that for political gain on my part. I say that as-----

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