Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can speak with confidence about pipelines because the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I have been in Tipperary recently opening new treatment plants, thanks to Irish Water and the great work it is doing with the new investment plan it has, thanks to the money it has been allocated. We should compliment it on the work it is doing.

On housing, when it comes to Tipperary, it is doing well with its targets. We will increase the targets because there is increased funding set aside for social housing. There is increased demand on all of us and on all local authorities to deliver that, and there are a number of methods to do that, through various schemes. I cannot stress enough how important it is that the two new schemes for vacant properties are used, namely, the sale and lease back and the buy and renew schemes. The approved housing bodies are part of that as well.

Tipperary has been allocated up to €60 million for housing and social housing over the last two years, and it is important that money gets spent. We are changing the processes to make it easier to spend it and to deliver, so let us work on that.

See this speech in context