Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

The allocation of €20 million to the council in 2025 represents 6% of the total fund available across 31 local authorities. To date, €6.8 million has been paid to Cork City Council in 2025. The Deputy is right that that represents strong delivery in the tenant in situ scheme. In fairness to them, I know that Cork City Council and Cork County Council have strong delivery of new builds for social homes, which has to be commended. Housing for All has always been flexible and has always been up for review. Where challenges are presenting themselves, like they are presenting themselves in Cork City Council, where there are commitments from a previous year, in fairness, local authorities have to work within parameters and budgets and because the tenant in situ scheme is such an effective solution, the council has obviously gone over what it was allocated in 2024. I get the Deputy's point and the equation. Through those commitments, there is a shortfall in the 2025 acquisitions. My understanding is that the Department will work closely with Cork City Council and Cork County Council to get through this.

See this speech in context