Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Leas Cheann-Comhairle for the indulgence, and I welcome the fact that there are members of Sinn Féin present although I notice that members of "performance before policy" are not present or, rather, the bourgeois wing of the party who, since the split happened, seem to be cosying up to Sinn Féin, according to other Members. It marks the fundamental difference between Government and Opposition in many ways.

My party has always supported the aspiration to own a home. It is a very legitimate aspiration and we need to involve the private sector to ensure that can happen. Most of the homebuilding being done at present is being done by the State. That is right. We need to provide social and affordable homes but we also need to make sure we support those who aspire to own their home.

In the brief time that is allowed to me, I wish to echo the importance, as emphasised by my colleague Deputy 'Chap' Cleere, of addressing the question of water and electricity connections. These are essential - specifically water, where we know the costs that are involved. The Minister of State will appreciate the importance of linking up small villages with water and wastewater schemes. I will instance two schemes which have been long outstanding in my constituency, namely, the Ferns-Camolin wastewater scheme in north Wexford and the Aughrim wastewater scheme in south Wicklow. They can be transformative if we can see them developed in those villages, allowing those villages to survive and be sustainable, and that can be replicated throughout the country.

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