Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The broad answer to that question is that, over the last number of years, €1.5 billion has been received by the State that is the proceeds of State assets and the disposal of State assets. It has been used at different points. For example, in June 2013, €150 million was made available for investment in schools and roads projects. An amount of those disposal gains has been ring-fenced for the national children's hospital. A further €200 million was allocated in May 2014 for investment in a range of capital projects across the country.

In regard to what has happened to the €400 million that has accrued from the sale of Bord Gáis Energy, that funding is available to Government but we have to use it in a way that is consistent with EUROSTAT rules, which we are working to do. More broadly, what we have been able to do is allocate over €5 billion to public housing in a conventional manner from the Exchequer to respond to the exact need the Deputy has identified.

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