Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----to produce its report on Friday. The development of the housing strategy on behalf of the Government will, I hope, be available in draft form by the end of this month. The strategy will take into account a range of propositions from the various Departments I mentioned to deal with the very questions the Deputy raises. These include the supply of housing, including social housing, the taking of homeless people off the streets, the provision of proper and adequate accommodation for families that are currently in hotel rooms and bed-and-breakfast accommodation, the issue of rent certainty, which has been dealt with, the changes made by the Department of Social Protection and the increasing numbers of people who are supported by an increased rent subsidy under the relevant scheme with Threshold.

A range of activity is taking place. Sinn Féin wants to make a specific point, as it is entitled to do, and vote on it. The range of work taking place is in the interests of everybody, including Deputy Adams who can make valid comment, constructive or otherwise, on the issues that will be in the action plan and strategy. These are designed to provide 35,000 social housing units, of which 18,000 are to provided by the end of 2017, with a further 17,000 to be provided by the end of 2020. That is where the action must be. It is not just about talk in here but about making decisions.

The Government made another decision today which will result in €200 million being provided by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. County councils will be able to compete to draw money from this fund to open up sites to build houses. I am sure Deputy Adams supports this measure.

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