Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

For clarity, I made the point that 20,400 houses were built in 2021, which is 12,000 below the target. That also happened in 2020 and in 2019, which was before the pandemic.

My question relates to the directive. Dublin City Council obviously did not get clarity that it could intervene in these situations. I outlined to the Minister the situation with the family who were facing homelessness. He replied that he was keen that local authorities and approved housing bodies avoid competing with potential private purchase for available properties. He raised specific priority acquisitions of one-bedroom units to deliver for Housing First, etc. He concluded by saying that he understood that Dublin City Council had informed his Department that as the property did not fall under the priority categories for acquisitions, it was not in a position to acquire it at that time. If that is what Dublin City Council was reading from the directive, there is a great danger that situation is being replicated around the country. I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene and clarify the directive for the local authorities that specific purpose acquisitions should also be used when families and others are facing homelessness through evictions.

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