Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Because only a few weeks ago we provided funding to local authorities to purchase 1,500 homes where landlords are selling up. That money has not yet all been drawn down.

If they draw it down, there will be more. Only a few weeks ago, we announced an increase in the amount of social homes we will provide this year through long-term leasing. The announcement today is not the totality of what we are doing on housing. Only a few weeks ago, we announced that additional money for local authorities. What we announced today is additional funding to bring derelict properties and vacant properties back into use. That is going to make a big difference all over Ireland and I hope the Deputy will support it. What we have also announced today is a removal of development levies for a year, designed to encourage and accelerate the amount of new building happening, saying that the taxpayer that can afford to will cover the cost of that public infrastructure with a view to bringing down the cost of construction and the cost of new housing. That should be the kind of thing the Deputy should be for. A much better Opposition party would be saying, "We welcome all the things you are doing but we would like you to do these as well."

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