Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have very strong representation from the banner county this morning. It is good to see the Deputies working together to deliver homes for our people.

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, is doing Trojan work in the area of Traveller accommodation, with a budget of €15.5 million that will be and is being spent, all of it being used on the capital side. We want to see our local authorities using the funds that are being provided by the Government to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation. The Minister of State is dealing with that matter on a daily basis across all local authorities, including Clare County Council.

On the question posed by Deputy McNamara, there have been material increases in timber, plastics and metals, some of it Covid-related and some of it Suez- and supply chain-related. This is being monitored by the Department's market surveillance unit. The increases we are seeing could be temporary, but we are monitoring the situation. The Deputy asked if this has an effect on delivery. There is no question that it does.

Deputy Carey raised the issue of affordable housing. The Deputy will know, because he has been an ardent supporter of the Affordable Housing Bill 2021, that the Bill comes before the Dáil today. It is the most significant affordable housing Bill in the history of the State and will impact positively on County Clare.

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