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

I am responding to what you said. I fully respect the Deputy's right have a point of view. There are issues in Ireland and throughout Europe and there is no question about this. In Deputy Tóibín's home town of Navan how many homes are being built at present and how many homes are being planned? Look at what is happening in Meath West and throughout the country. Of course there are challenges to make sure we have small and medium builders involved in housing. I see this throughout the country. It is happening. It is not just the top three or four that are building. Housing for All gives us the ability. It is not a ten-year-old plan. It is about 14 or 15 months old. It is bringing about the planning changes we need to reduce costs and design changes to reduce costs and affordability measures. This year we have people for the first time in a generation buying affordable homes. This is because of the Affordable Housing Act the Government brought forward. It was not supported by many Deputies on the other side of the House. I recognise the issues the Deputy has raised. We are acutely conscious of them. We work with builders throughout the country to deliver the supplies we need. We need to get above the 33,000 average.

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