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

It is the rationale behind the general policy. We do not want individuals or couples competing with the council all the time to buy a house. That is the balance that has to be achieved here. The primary focus we want from local authorities is to concentrate on getting social houses built directly. We need more housebuilding on all fronts. This includes the private sector, agencies like the Land Development Agency, LDA, local authorities and approved social housing bodies. They all need finance in different guises to enable the financial capacity to be put behind what will be a massive housebuilding programme for the next ten years.

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