Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am always happy to do so. We need to learn, in this House, how to disagree agreeably and how to make substantive points in debate in a respectful, courteous and civil manner.

The report of the Housing Commission has dominated headlines and debate - rightly so - since it was leaked earlier this week. It was welcome to hear the Taoiseach say he does not appear to challenge its findings, which are a searing critique of the Government's policy on housing and damning of the Housing for All plan, which the Minister stood over again this week. As he put it on Tuesday night, he said, any plan worth its salt has review mechanisms built in and that is what the commission's report was. It is not enough just to have a review mechanism. It is also important the Government accepts when the review is scathing and undertakes to act upon the recommendations and findings in the review. The commission report makes it clear that Housing for All is not working. The commission has called for a radical strategic reset and emergency action to address the massive shortfall of homes - more than a quarter of a million homes, which are badly needed for communities, families and individuals.

We have spoken before about the need to build more homes. We want to see the Minister, in answer to that review, publish the revised building targets without further delay. Until those new, higher targets are out, and the Minister accepts they need to be increased, there can be no ramping up by industry to prepare for them. If you speak to anyone in the construction sector or anyone who wants to deliver homes for people in our communities, they tell us they want to pivot from building offices to building homes and they want supports for that. They want supports to enable them to build the houses and apartments people so badly need. So long as building targets remain inadequate and low, they are left playing a waiting game. I appeal to the Minister again to act on the Housing Commission's' report and to publish the revised targets now.

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