Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, Alex White, Boyle, Leyden, Healy-Eames, Ormonde, Norris, MacSharry, Bradford, Phelan and Donohoe all called for an urgent debate on the challenges facing the local authorities in Ireland regarding housing stock. I congratulate the new Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for housing, Deputy Michael Finneran, who was an excellent Senator before being elected to the Dáil. As a Senator, he was Government spokesperson on Finance in this House. I understand the Minister of State has a budget of €2 billion at his disposal this year.