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

We have Topical Issue matters so that might be an opportunity to raise issues. Deputy Bacik raised the planning issue again, as did Deputy O'Callaghan. Two weeks ago there was a lot of pressure on Government to declare a housing emergency, to accept that there is a housing emergency and to accept that it is urgent. This is a minor amendment which enables us to get houses built more rapidly on public land that is already zoned for housing. Local authorities are getting help as well because the Minister has allocated substantial funding to them to take away historic debt and to enable them to get on with building rapid-build houses.

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