Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The plan will be debated in the Dáil today and tomorrow. It is important to say that local authorities have performed very indifferently in many cases. Some are better than others. However, they were not responsible for the complete collapse of the housing sector. We know what happened to the construction sector in general. Obviously, many builders went out of business while many others emigrated and the economy did not have the capacity to develop these things.

All these issues are being looked at in great detail by the Minister and his officials across Government, not just in one Department. This is also to address the unacceptable number of families in emergency accommodation and involves looking at moderating rental and purchase price inflation, particularly in urban areas. We are aware of this. There was never a denial of the fact that there was a problem. There was always an acceptance and understanding that the construction sector had collapsed from building 90,000 houses down to fewer than 10,000. There is also the issue of addressing the affordability gap for many households wishing to purchase their own homes. The Minister will refer to opportunities to deal with that which will present themselves later. Other issues include the rental sector, void units and empty houses throughout the country that could be purchased. The Minister has addressed all of these issues in considerable detail through the five pillars, and I hope Members will give their views during the discussion today and tomorrow. It is a genuine attempt to sort this out once and for all.

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