John Carty (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of sites and their locations made available by her Department towards the provision of social housing. [26167/05]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Under the ——

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Obviously the biggest issue for agriculture in County Mayo.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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That is because of the good stewardship under which all issues are dealt with. I agree with Deputy Naughten.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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It sounds good on MidWest Radio.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Under the affordable housing initiative my Department has identified six sites for consideration in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway and Kildare. The sites in County Cork are located in Clonakilty and in Model Farm Road in Cork city. The sites in County Dublin are located in Harcourt Terrace, Dublin city and in the townland of Backstown near Lucan. The site in County Galway is located in Athenry. The site in County Kildare is located in the townland of Stacumny near Celbridge.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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What about Bailieborough in Cavan?

Johnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State may remember that on the Land Bill 2004 I raised an important question on Land Commission land being handed back to county councils. He has taken on board my suggestion, which was supported by Deputy Naughten and others, that county councils would not just sell this land off on the open market to the highest bidder because it was made available for the ordinary people to feed a cow and a calf. If any change is being made in that regard or if such land is not being made available for recreation facilities for GAA clubs, soccer clubs etc., much of this land could be suitable for social housing or affordable housing, in particular, for young couples, some of whom may be returning to the country and whose families would have availed of this land in the past.

I ask that sites would be made available for such people. I hope the Minister of State will take that into consideration. He indicated to me that it would form part of the Bill, that this land could not be sold off and that such people would be facilitated if at all possible.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with Deputy Brady. He has spoken and written to us and raised it on Second Stage and Committee Stage of the Land Bill 2004. The first time I heard the terms cow plots and cow parks was when they were used by Deputy Brady in this context. I assure the Deputy that these properties, if they should change hands, will be used for the common good, for public good and community use. There will be no case of such properties being sold or local authorities being allowed sell them to people to make profit. They will be for the public good and that will be copperfastened in the legislation. Report Stage of the Land Bill 2004 will be before this House next week.