Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have just come from the Carrickdale hotel, where a very successful cross-Border conference is ongoing. It was organised by Newry and Dundalk chambers of commerce and is backed by the local authorities on either side of the Border. The Minister, Conor Murphy MLA, and the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond, are speaking at it and it is all very positive. We all know the positives that exist in the M1 Border corridor but the problem is that in the southern part of it, where I live, we are constantly hearing not only from Focus Ireland and Threshold but also from IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland that housing and the accommodation crisis are impacting detrimentally on business and the future of business. The impact on families and individuals is huge but the situation is also impacting on the economy, which is the big sell that the Government talks about. Until this is addressed, we are facing into stark disaster for many families but for the entire economy also. We can all get up here and say that the Government has abysmal targets and has absolutely failed to hit them, whether we are talking about council, affordable or cost-rental housing. When we are talking about affordable, we are not really talking about affordable. In places that were previously affordable, where people could qualify under the criteria and it worked out, that is not the case at the minute. There are particular issues in Louth County Council with a very small number of affordable and possibly affordable schemes that are to come into play. None of this is happening in any way, shape or form.

I have limited time so I will deal with many of the issues we need to deal with. I have already been on to the Minister and spoken to Louth County Council about the fact that we need the defective concrete block scheme opened for County Louth. There are a number of cases that need to be dealt with, involving people in really bad circumstances. I hope there will be no issues from the ministerial side. I am dealing with many issues in respect of adaptation grants and the fact that we do not have a scheme that is fit to deliver for those with disabilities. I know the review is ongoing but really need to get to grips with it. Beyond that----

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