Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach might forgive me for being somewhat cynical about all of that because when I raised it last April, the Taoiseach's predecessor said the Government was very ambitious and that it would build 650 rapid build houses in 2017. I think 76 have been delivered. That is our problem. I have heard all this before in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. I have heard it all and I have seen very little delivery on the ground. Ministers visited the centre and a child welfare officer could not be appointed to the centre for some reason - I do not know what it is. The centre depends on the generosity of people for money. They got €3.5 million through collections and €450,000 from Government. Surely, the least the Government could do is ensure that the Ministers who visit follow through on the visit and make sure the issue of child protection in particular is looked after and that such an officer is provided as well as a social worker and other services it requires. There are fantastic examples of volunteers. The Peter McVerry Trust, Simon Communities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Focus Ireland and the Penny Dinners all say it is getting worse on the ground.

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