Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for the good job he is doing in the Department. The schemes he has initiated will make a considerable difference to people on the waiting list. In Dublin city, approximately 4,400 people are on the waiting list. From time to time, we must all make representations on behalf of people seeking housing, transfers and so on. Given the number of vacant houses in the city and its suburbs, that people are waiting for three or four years is difficult to understand. We should examine the matter.

The Minister of State and the Department are constantly liaising with local authorities. As he stated, the priority is to ensure that affordable homes are brought into use. While we all agree in this respect, a number of homes in my area in north County Dublin have been idle for the past six months or longer. Hundreds of houses have no one in them. That affordable homes for people in Dublin can only be found 40 or 50 miles away is an issue. People can buy a house on the open market for less than they can buy an affordable home in Dublin. This issue is raised regularly.

Local authorities' first priority is to sell units to those who are eligible under the affordable homes scheme. They have met with some success and I know of many people in the city who have availed of the scheme. I congratulate the local authorities on no longer ghettoising people in apartments. When that occurred, people revolted. The authorities have come to terms with this fact and dealt with the situation efficiently. People who engage in anti-social behaviour are now moved out. However, they must be housed elsewhere. I thank the Dublin local authorities for their good estate management, which the House should acknowledge publicly.

I thank the Minister of State and hope he continues his good work. I appreciate what he is doing in the Department. He never takes his eye off the ball, which is a good comment to be able to make about anyone.