Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Adjournment debate. Since it relates to her Department, I am delighted that she is present.

A number of houses on the affordable housing scheme have been lying idle in Killarney since 2009. As the Minister of State knows, that scheme has been discontinued for some time, but the houses have remained empty.

The houses were originally only available to applicants under the affordable housing scheme but despite a considerably reduced sale price those concerned still could not access mortgages and made alternative arrangements in respect of their housing needs. The houses were then advertised on the open market at the reduced price but there was no great interest in them.

The Minister of State will be aware, owing to the fact that no new social house building has taken place this year, that the number of people on the social housing list is huge. While I acknowledge announcement of the construction of 500 new houses this year, taken in a countrywide context that is very little construction per county. However, it is a step in the right direction.

The four houses about which I am speaking are ready for occupation and are located in a social housing complex. People on the social housing list in Killarney are angered that they remain unoccupied while so many are in need of houses. They cannot understand the reason they cannot be used for social housing purposes.

I understand that Killarney Town Council has applied to have them redesignated as social housing. I hope that the Minister of State can give me a positive answer today.