Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I listened to the debate during Leaders’ Questions earlier, if it could be called a debate. The Tánaiste said the solution to the housing crisis is the provision of more accommodation. He also said that everyone in this House wants to do the right thing regardless of what they view the right thing is. I agree with him on both counts.

Clare County Council recently purchased six houses on Francis Street in Ennis. It is proposed to transfer them to a company wholly owned by Clare County Council, Ennis 2040 DAC, and they are to be knocked down. Some of the six houses were very recently lived in. They are in various states of repair. Some would require substantial work and others less substantial works. It is proposed to turn the site into a temporary carpark until such time as it will be determined what will be done with the site. There is talk of a mixed-use development, whatever that is. There is no firm decision on how many residential units, if any, will be there. Does the Tánaiste agree that is not the right thing to do with housing stock in a county town in the midst of a housing crisis? If he does, will the Government do something about it?

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