Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A core part of Government policy is to build houses and not lease them. This will be reflected in the Housing for All strategy. In the interim period, we need to wean off the degree to which leasing has been used. Up to 2,500 houses over the next 18 months can be provided through this mechanism for people on social housing lists. We do need to get people off the social housing lists and we need to get houses for them. We cannot wave magic wands here. Earlier, Deputy Boyd Barrett went on about how many people are on the housing assistance payment. We cannot just take people off the housing assistance payment and provide them with houses tomorrow. We have to look at every available option to provide housing. The bulk of resources will be on social and affordable housing and investment in infrastructure to facilitate affordable housing. The private sector also has to get going. Dublin City Council was one of the leaders in this regard with regard to developing this mechanism.

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