Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

——there is no point in the local authorities building three bedroom semi-detached houses like they did 20 years ago. They are supposed to build in accordance with the breakdown of what is on their list. We have been trying to get that through to them. Many of the local authorities are coming on board but there is still a bit of a culture and ethos among them of building three bedroom and four bedroom houses.

The rent allowance aspect of which Senator Scanlon spoke is really a matter to discuss with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, but I understand from where the Senator is coming. Local authorities ought to build a proper mix of housing rather than the standard approach of taking down the old plan and building the type of house built 40 years ago in the same way. We have tried to get away from such an approach and have made clear to local authorities the need to look at their waiting lists, see the profile and submit an application. We have sent back a few applications on the basis that what they were trying to build was not in accordance with their list.

We are delivering. We are spending significant resources. We are not solving all the problems of the world but we are doing a reasonable job.