Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I ask the deputy leader if she will invite the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Willie Penrose, to the House to give us an update on progress to date regarding the so-called ghost estates. The Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, came into the House in the previous term and, to his credit, within 48 hours he acted on some of the suggestions made from both sides of the House. I congratulate and compliment him on that. It is important, however, that we get an update from the Minister of State because as we approach the long winter months we must remember that people and families are living in these ghost estates which have no outside lighting or footpaths. The conditions are disgraceful. Will the deputy leader invite the Minister, Deputy Penrose, back to the House to give us an update on progress to date on ghost estates?

I also renew my call for the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government into the House so we can get an update on the reform of local government, particularly his intention to reduce the number of county councillors.