Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy very much for that ringing endorsement. I am delighted. What I would say is that a substantial amount of progress has been made in this area in recent years, and that needs to be recognised. This is an interdepartmental process and we must include my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, in the Department of Finance, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in order to give an overall picture of housing needs. I am acutely aware of this. I represent a constituency where there is no third level institution or university, although there is an agricultural college. Nonetheless, I am aware that for many of those I represent, commuting has become the new norm.

Today, before I came to the House, I asked the officials in the Department to check the digs that are currently available in the State today. There are 2,200 beds available today. Substantial changes were made to that element. I believe it is a fundamental part of the fix that we need going forward. It is certainly something that is in discussion with the Ministers, Deputy Michael McGrath and Deputy Darragh O'Brien, that I would like to see pushed out.

See this speech in context