Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Let me put it this way – there is 50% more money in next year's Estimates than in 2000. I will maintain that level of funding. We are building over 12,000 units per annum, which figure does not include what this measure can deliver on top. I will maintain this figure also next year.

The third point I wish to make to Senators who spoke about housing lists is that they should remember that their profile has changed dramatically. I am not using this as an excuse, but one of the problems we are dealing with is the changed nature of society. Some 60% of those now on the housing lists are single men or women with children who remain single. The consequences of marriage breakdown are a huge feature. Ten years ago one could not get on the housing list if one was single. All of the parties represented in this Chamber largely dealt with one problem, but the goalposts have shifted on all of us.

The size of the housing lists surprised me, which is not to say the Minister of State and I are satisfied, but the way people were talking to me, I expected the total number to be over 65,000 and that there had been a massive increase. I was actually quite surprised when the figure came in at 48,000, which represented a 20% increase and was still unsatisfactory. However, somewhere in the mix we are removing big numbers from the housing lists because we are delivering over 12,000 units per year. That is an enormous amount delivered through the different methodologies – the local authorities and the voluntary housing sector. It is a huge commitment by the State to delivering social and affordable housing.