Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I would like to share time with Deputy Holly Cairns. I will take six minutes and she will take four. I have two questions for the Minister of State. There will be ample time for him to respond. I want to look at changes in construction output due to Covid-19 and how this will affect the delivery of social housing by local authorities. Private sector construction is projected to decrease quite severely as a result of Covid-19. More than 70% of new social housing builds in 2019 was bought from the private sector by the State, local authorities or approved housing bodies as turnkey acquisitions. Moreover, the number of turnkey acquisitions purchased from the private sector increased to 74% in 2019 from 55% in 2018. Turnkey acquisition has become local authorities' main source of new social housing units. In light of these facts, what is the projected impact of the reduction in private sector construction on the delivery of social housing by local authorities? Does the Minister of State agree that there is a need to reduce local authorities' reliance on turnkey purchased from the private sector units as a means of delivering social housing?

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