Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. I will stick to it. I thank the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, for coming to Clonmel this week and making that announcement of funding to extra housing units there. I am disappointed that the county council did not notify all the Deputies of the Dáil. We will be there to meet the Minister and give him a hand and turn the sod, as will the local representatives.

The Irish Council for Social Housing, ICSH, of which I was a member for a number of years, and Dr. Donal McManus and his team there do tremendous work. I am pleading with the Minister to use those volunteers. They can do it. Ní neart go cur le chéile. I am not talking about the big voluntary boards, though Respond! Housing Association and the others do a good job. I am talking about small housing associations throughout the country that are building ten, 15, 20 or even as few as six units. They are vital. They look after the stock as well, and have a great relationship with the tenants. The voluntary housing associations have a huge role to play. I hope that the Minister will make full use of them, because the Department was cautious of them a few years ago. I hope that has changed.

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