Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have just left a budgetary oversight committee meeting with the Minister, Deputy Noonan, who was describing the French housing model that is being used to get over the EUROSTAT rules, yet we have thrown back €400 million. What is actually being spent on housing of the money from Bord Gáis Energy is €10 million per annum. To spend €10 million is very different to spending €400 million and it exposes the spin of this Government in regard to housing. The money was there - the cash was on the table - yet the Government could not work out how to spend it. At the same time, Ministers can go around quoting examples from other EU countries which are spending money on housing in a way that is consistent with the EUROSTAT rules.

What is going to happen in regard to AIB? If AIB is sold, what will happen following the disposal of that asset and where will that money go? What is the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform doing to ensure this Bord Gáis Energy money actually gets spent on housing?

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