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

Our ambition on behalf of the State is greater than that of most people here. However, we must use HAP and other schemes in the short term to provide housing solutions. I do not apologise for that. I wish we had enough social housing stock to avoid it, but we do not because other Governments did not build it. We are committed to correcting that and I hope future Governments continue the work we started in the building of social houses. I agree with everyone that we should have a proper supply of social housing and do not but that is being addressed. We will address the matter as quickly as we can and do more as we go along.

Deputy Bríd Smith mentioned a family who were in a hub for a year but she did not say whether they were offered a housing solution. I gather from her that they were not offered a permanent social housing solution but I do not know if they were offered a HAP house.

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