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

The matter is before the courts. In my view, every effort should be made to prevent eviction. I do not know whether or not the local authority has been involved with the tenants. That should be pursued.

Deputy Bríd Smith raised the issue of affordable social and rental housing. Councillor Daithí de Róiste was in touch with me about what has transpired in the past week. He said that the committee would contact me to ask me to visit the area, which I will do. I am familiar with the facilities in Cherry Orchard, particularly the school facilities. I was in government when that was last developed. There was a comprehensive solution at the time. In the context of sustaining communities, a Cabinet sub-committee is developing a policy position in respect of key areas such as social and community development, housing and giving communities the tools to be safe, with an emphasis on childcare, early education and so on. It is somewhat similar to the drug task forces we had in the past and to the area partnerships that were developed. That is the way to proceed in order to give areas supports that are required. Officials in my Department are working on that agenda as I speak.

With regard to Deputy Paul Murphy's question, nobody should ever intimidate a Tidy Towns committee that is pursuing its objectives and work. It would be wrong to do so. I am not familiar with the specifics of the case the Deputy raised, but, in my view, Tidy Towns committees do exceptional work. They should be supported in that process and should not be intimidated by anybody.

Deputy McDonald referred to the housing policies and described them as a fiasco and a disaster. They are anything but that. Significant progress has been made, notwithstanding the impact of Covid-19 on housing construction in 2020 and 2021. The 30,000 commencements are significant. We need to build on that. The Deputy does not have to appreciate it, but I find it hard to reconcile what she said with the constant serial objections to good housing schemes in circumstances where there has been an abundance of debate about mixed solutions, including a combination of social, affordable and private housing. Projects such as that relating to O'Devaney Gardens went on for too long. It is a shame on everybody that they were allowed to go on for so long.

I will follow up on Deputy Kelly's questions.

See this speech in context