Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this morning’s Cabinet discussion about raising the cap on rent allowance. There is a commitment in the programme for Government regarding the turnaround time for vacant local authority houses. The Tánaiste is aware of the awful situation where local authorities, including our own in County Kerry, are waiting for funds to turn around housing units to make them habitable for new tenants. There is a commitment in the programme for Government in this regard. What has the new Minister for housing done to improve this situation? It is ridiculous to have thousands of people on housing waiting lists while there are local authority housing units in estates throughout the country which have lain idle, not just for weeks or months but for six months and 12 months. Will the Tánaiste do something to improve that and help hard-working housing departments in local authorities? They are pleading for help. We have great people working in the housing departments.

See this speech in context