Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. No doubt she and the Government are committed to try and deliver social and affordable housing.

I should point out that some of the schemes in place at present to help first-time buyers are unlikely to benefit the people in the middle I have been talking about, especially those whose incomes are at the lower end of the scale. I mention the experience of people in my constituency. I want to know because there is a site in my area of Claregalway that is earmarked for affordable housing. No planning application has gone in for that yet and the local authority bought the site over three years ago. It is taking an extremely long time before a local authority applies for planning permission. By the time you buy the site and get the builder on board and building one is talking at least four or five years. That is taking too long.

The focus must be on getting movement on the building of affordable homes. The Government has a responsibility to ensure they are built, and built quickly. Speed is of the essence. While there are plans and targets, housing needs to be delivered more quickly. There are many people who desperately want to get a home of their own to raise a family and see affordable housing as the only opportunity to do so.

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