Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I endorse the words of Senator Craughwell to the Deputy Leader on her first occasion in that role - at least the first time when I was here. I wish to be associated with Senator Conway's timely remarks about the staff of the House.

I welcome the set of solutions proposed to deal with the housing crisis announced by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and his team. We need to establish a mechanism to monitor this as was the case with the Action Plan for Jobs. Each month we need to know what has been achieved, how many houses have been built, how many vacant properties have been acquired, etc. I ask the Deputy Leader to ensure that. The Seanad could play a role in that. At least every couple of months, we should have a debate to take stock on the status of the housing crisis.

I am particularly interested in the occupation of vacant houses, whether they are vacant houses owned by local authorities that have not yet been turned around, vacancies above shops, vacant houses owned by people anywhere or even relatively derelict properties that could be reconstructed and put into use.

I am also interested in encouraging first-time buyers, which is obviously where the great problem is for the developer-builder sector. More importantly, there is the human reality for the prospective first-time buyers, who cannot get into the market. That needs to be addressed in the budget. The signs here are good but it needs to happen.

I am encouraged to hear from the Minister and others that there are positive moves afoot in the private sector to develop student accommodation. I am aware of one such development. I am anxious that we also monitor that because purpose-built student accommodation is key to providing the cheap accommodation third level students need to allow them get the full university experience rather than having to commute but also to relieve the housing crisis.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to address these important issues. It is the biggest crisis facing the country. We should monitor it in the House. We talk about the relevance of this House all the time. Nothing would be more relevant than a two-monthly debate on the status of that.