Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is well aware that I have been raising the issue of affordable housing schemes and the need to expand them in County Clare. I was pleased that he did expand it to three schemes altogether, one in Shannon and two in Ennis, which is a total of 31 units.

I thought that seeking and getting approval from the Minister would be the most difficult obstacle in expanding affordable housing schemes in County Clare. As it transpires, however, only three have been delivered so far. We get the management report on a monthly basis and each time, it describes how countless expressions of interest campaigns seeking proposals and options to deliver affordable housing or homes in County Clare are being explored. I was hoping the Minister could provide a bit of clarity around what is happening. I am told there is one submission under consideration by his Department. It is just to get things moving along because it is taking a slow process to a whole other level. There are a lot of people in desperate need in County Clare.

Looking at the gov.ie statistics, we had three affordable purchase homes delivered. There have been 13 first home scheme homes delivered this year, which is down ten from last year. We had 13 under the vacant property refurbishment grant, which is an increase of only ten since last year. They are not massive numbers. I wanted to bring that information to the Minister of State because the current scheme for the vacant property refurbishment scheme does not seem to be workable - 13 months is not long enough to begin and end work in many cases if there are difficulties obtaining a contractor or if a person works full-time. All these other various factors come into consideration. I wanted to raise that issue.

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