Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

In view of the huge housing waiting lists in all local authority areas and the chronic shortage of land in most of these areas, I ask the Leader for a debate on local authority housing. Unfortunately, local authorities in need of land for housing are often unable to compete with the private sector when land comes on the market for public sale. Will the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to come before the House to debate the matter? I would not be opposed to regulation in the auctioneering industry and I would not defend the few bad apples in the barrel. Most of those in the business are honourable, but perhaps young people are being offered different advice from various sources.