Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As my colleagues have said, my party will table our own amendment to this motion. I find it hard to take seriously Sinn Féin's interest in housing or indeed in anything. As a new Deputy here, I saw at first hand Sinn Féin running to the hills when it came to forming a Government. Its members could have had an input into policy or into Government but they ran to the hills instead. Perhaps they would have had all the answers but alas, we will never know because they went to the hills and stayed there.

Homelessness nationally has reached crisis point. Official homeless figures for Cork South-West do not give an accurate picture. As it is a rural constituency, many houses now house three generations, which leads to its own problems, including problems with mental health. Instead of people being on the street, the houses are overcrowded.

Fianna Fáil has placed housing front and centre as a key priority. We not only talk the talk but walk the walk. We have put forward a series of Bills, such as the Vacant Housing Refurbishment Bill 2017, to get to grips with the crisis. My three constituency offices are inundated with people who are on the housing list or trying to get on the list. The Government must start delivering on houses. After four plans and after a dozen launches with bells, whistles and ribbons, action now needs to be taken. Bricks and mortar need to be put into the ground, instead of the usual spin.

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