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

I am well aware this is a matter the Deputy has raised consistently. I wish to advise her that I have received a report from the chair of the Galway task force covering social housing and related issues over the period of 2021 to 2022. Once I and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, have completed a review in consultation with officials, we will arrange for a copy of the report to be sent to the Deputy. We will also have to consult the members of the task force prior to forwarding the report.

I acknowledge the work and effort made by all the task force members in working together to respond to the challenges and drive responses to the delivery of public housing in Galway. The chair is taking on this role pro bono, having undertaken a similar role for the Cork social housing task force, where there was a focus on enhancing co-operation between the two councils and other partners. The Cork task force saw social housing delivery markedly improve and my intention is that the same drive will continue towards a similar outcome in Galway.

The Deputy will appreciate that there is no single, easy solution to the range of challenges. In particular, in the period covered by the chair's latest report there was major and worldwide disruption to construction following Covid, with some temporary site closures, supply chain difficulties, construction inflation, labour and skills shortages and impacts of the Ukraine war. The task force has given the Galway councils and their delivery partners a valuable opportunity to assist each other through those challenges. Building on that and driving further delivery and solutions is where I want the task force's focus to be for the next year. I know we can count on the support of public representatives in this work too.

In summary, we have received the report. We are giving it due consideration. We will be engaging with members of the task force and once we have had an opportunity to do that work we will certainly forward a copy of the report and would welcome observations.

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