Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody who has contributed to the debate.

In the limited time I have, I want to deal with facts and to address a number of points that have been raised by individual Deputies.

Deputy Ó Broin led off the debate. The tenant in situ scheme has been expanded and it has been in place since last April. We would like to have seen a greater take-up. The senior Minister has written to the local authorities to tell them to purchase properties, whatever tenant is in situ. The Deputy spoke about the emergency planning for vacant and derelict buildings. Sinn Féin has consistently opposed the Croí Cónaithe scheme, which is what this scheme is about.

The Deputy then spoke about the biggest social and affordable housing programme. Housing for All is that programme. I listened to the debate tonight and I did not see anything in what Sinn Féin is putting forward that specifically deals with a real, thought-out, logical housing programme.

I then move to Deputy Bacik who raised her party's proposal If one is looking at ceasing the eviction ban with four consecutive months of a reduction, if it goes down by a euro, it will be removed. That is not a material change and the proposal is not properly thought through. She also made reference to Dublin City Council in respect of the number of units. Dublin City Council have come forward to say that it is in the process of looking at 280 tenant in situunits at the moment.

Deputy Cian O’Callaghan spoke about the possibility of there being no private rental sector. We have to have a balance and I find it difficult to understand why Sinn Féin demonises small private landlords.

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