Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I got a note when I came into the House this evening from a man who said he has five sites in County Limerick with full planning permission. He has offered them to Limerick City and County Council numerous times but has heard nothing back. The Minister has stated councils are fully funded to facilitate the purchase of houses made available for social and affordable homes. The person to whom I refer is willing to build the houses if the council wants him to do so and give them back to the council at an agreed price before building starts. He is not a builder, but he said he would build houses in a town in Limerick which could house five people in affordable housing. The local authority has not contacted him, despite being contacted on numerous occasions.

This evening as I walked into the House, two people in my parish were refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála. They went through the planning process and were granted planning by the local authority but were told planning had been refused by An Bord Pleanála, having waited 14 months. They want to build on their own land. There are now two people who cannot build their own houses at no cost to the State. Five houses could be built in a town in Limerick to house five people, but the local authority is doing nothing about it.

This is not the first time I have spoken to local authorities about sites available for them to buy where developers could not afford to build but could build at a cost that could suit the council. They have not got back to anyone. We have a housing crisis. Why are local authorities not held accountable for not taking up these houses? What is going on? Is there no accountability to the Minister? Will the Minister look into this if I bring him these individual cases, in particular the five sites for affordable housing? They could be built at a cost that would be acceptable to the State. That is what we can do.

I am a block layer by trade. I have built a lot of houses for a lot of people, but I do not build houses anymore. The sites are there, but local authorities will not allow people to build houses to take people off the streets and put a roof over their heads. They are not accountable to Government. What is going on? I would like the Minister to intervene on this.

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