Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief, as I do not wish to repeat what has been said by previous speakers on the issue of homelessness and the shortage of housing. I will focus on my own back yard of Cork and in particular on Cork East, where the Government could be doing more. The common denominator that arises in many villages and towns in my area is Irish Water, which is not progressing developments. I will give the example of Glanworth, a little village in my own parish. Cork County Council gave approval for a developer to build houses with some to be allocated for social housing. The builder cannot start. Irish Water has put an obstruction in the way because a facility is not working properly. Lately we were led to believe that they were to be included in a bundle of other villages and projects but somehow, the village of Glanworth fell out of the equation. I have raised this with the Minister of State before. Leading on from Glanworth, one can go to Mitchelstown, which significantly is located just off the M8 and has great potential for economic growth. It is hindered also. No one can build a house in Mitchelstown at the moment. It is ironic that Irish Water is the problem here again. I understand that while the wastewater treatment plant in Glanworth is not working properly, what has been taken out of that plant is being taken to Mitchelstown and both towns are being hindered. It has been brought to my attention that in Castletownroche people are interested in building houses and Irish Water again has put an obstruction in the way. The Minister of State is getting wrapped up in the cities but rural Ireland needs a fair chance of growing as well. To grow, it needs houses, social, affordable and for the person who wants to get into the market, that is, for the working people. I have only been here for three and half years. These issues have been going on for longer than three and a half years with Irish Water in the Cork area.

I want to touch on the density issue. It is all fine having high-density developments within cities and major urban areas. In east Cork, in the likes of Cobh and Midleton, they are asking for high-density developments that are in no way attached to the town centre. Builders are standing back and will not get involved in the development. This is also delaying the construction of houses. I know most people here have been focusing on homelessness and the need for more social housing. If we do not get houses built in our villages and towns, these people could end up migrating to the bigger urban areas and creating a bigger problem down the road for whoever will be in the next Government.

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