Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State will be aware, small one-off builders and self-builders are also important to the supply of housing in Ireland, particularly in rural areas. Accessing materials is increasingly difficult. I refer to timber in particular. The supply is drying up. A simple length of 4" X 2" was €8 last year and is now €13. One of the main builder's suppliers in Clare is no longer stocking timber. Builders will not give quotes of more than a month's duration because of inflation in the cost of supplies. I refer not just to timber, but to materials generally. What is the Minister's Department going to do about this? What can it do?

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