Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----the rent controls and pointing out the problems in that area. We have also raised the issue of senior citizens and accommodation for older persons and the problem of the financial contributions which have virtually stopped. We also have a lot of bedsits lying idle in different areas. In my area, we have a lot of bedsits lying idle, which are not suitable for most people. We need to get them up and running. The Government put some money into it but there is not enough and it is not being put forward fast enough. I will mention the issue of planning briefly. I am straying a little bit. The whole idea of bypassing local authorities for what is normally a five week to six week process on 100 units or more is a dangerous one. The consultation with residents is extremely important. We need to be very careful. We are not gaining an awful lot. We are in an emergency situation. Many people here have put forward amendments. I would like the Minister to think about what he is doing. This will not work. The drive to privatisation is continuing in the local authorities and the mindset is there. Unfortunately that mindset is prevalent in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. That is one of the major problems we are having in dealing with the local authorities. The people who are in charge of many of these are of the same mindset.

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