Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is due cognisance being taken of the fact that when a private sector company builds houses for letting or reletting, it has to make a profit? This increases the rent chargeable to the tenant and, as a result, makes the economy less competitive because it is costing more. Is it recognised that it is necessary to provide local authority direct-build houses in the shortest possible time in order to ensure that fewer players are involved in the production of the houses? A contract could be given to the private sector to build a specific number of houses within a specified period. This would contribute quite substantially to the future competitiveness of the economy.

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