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

I understand that, but the best use of State-owned lands is accommodation for all. The question that we are asked most is whether we are open to different models of funding. With every site the State owns we have asked the local authority to bring in all the different concepts for that land. They have all brought in their plans for delivery of social, affordable and private accommodation. We look at every option available to deliver those sites. I did not meet the residents this morning. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy has met them. We will look at every option for how we can best deliver housing as quickly as possible and how we can stretch taxpayers' money as much as we can from a capital perspective.

These sites should have houses on them. I see Deputy Smith nodding and shaking her head. I agree that there should be houses on these sites and we have to find a way to move this on. It has been stuck in the system but this is what we are trying to do. We have changed the system to allow the sites to move forward a lot quicker. A lot of effort has gone into working with local authorities. There is engagement. Under the direction of the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, the housing delivery team and I have engaged directly with local authority officials and councillors, site by site, to see how we can make these decisions, remove barriers and move on. We can do this on those sites also. There has been enragement there, the Minister has been out there again, and-----

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