Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for the different questions. In response to Deputy Nash, the answer is yes, I do. I am well aware of all the challenges faced by so many with regard to housing. We are putting in place a huge amount of additional investment to respond to it.

I will say to Deputy Connolly that I am aware of it and I have read it. I agree with some but not all of it. Am I going to act on it? I am facing many different demands to increase borrowing at the moment. I cannot, therefore, commit to any particular action with regard to additional borrowing for one policy area. That must and will be done in the context of the budget later in the year. It is relevant to make a point about previous levels of capital investment when we are talking about how there might be a need to increase capital investment in the future.

In response to Deputy Doherty, the State is not withdrawing from the building of homes in the country. The State is currently the largest supplier and builder of homes in the country. The reason we have increased capital investment for housing in the way we have is because of my acknowledgement of the need for the State to be a direct builder of homes.

See this speech in context