Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

One of the main tasks of this Government is the provision of housing. However, one action taken by the Department and the local authorities is the purchase of second-hand houses around our county. This means the local authority is in direct competition with people who wish to purchase a house for themselves. The local authorities and the Department should be building houses for social housing rather than competing with private individuals who are doing their best to purchase a house and put a roof over their heads. Those people are up against competition from the local authorities.

Moreover, there are no loans available from local authorities to renovate a second-hand house. There are no loans of €50,000 or €60,000, the kind of figure that would put a roof over people's heads. I ask the Taoiseach to look at those issues because they affect a lot of people.

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