Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We clearly believe that an affordable housing scheme is needed, among other measures. I asked the Minister to tell the House when such a scheme will be established, but he did not answer. There is a need for an affordable housing scheme that is backed by Exchequer funds and can be leveraged through a special purpose vehicle or through credit union finance. By the way, since 1 February last the Central Bank has allowed credit unions to invest in this area. The Government has not seen that through. We want action. A maximum of 780 social houses were built last year. That is a fact. I would like to deal with something that was said here this evening about the construction of social homes. If Deputies want a history lesson, I can tell them that 14,581 social houses were built between 2007 and 2010.

See this speech in context