Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 17 Senators who made contributions on the Order of Business. Senators Ardagh, Boyhan, Colm Burke and Murnane O'Connor referred to housing and related issues. The important point is that yesterday the Minister, Deputy Coveney, announced 8,430 social housing units across 500 developments, building on the Rebuilding Ireland initiative. He announced a total of 504 social housing schemes, and a further 450 public private partnership developments are also due to take place.

In response to the issue raised by Senator Murnane O'Connor about voids and vacant houses, 2,300 such houses are being redeveloped as we speak and over the course of the year. I agree that the level of homeless people is unacceptably high but it is important to recognise that the Minister has set targets and that he must be accountable for them.

In response to Senator Murnane O'Connor's point about voids, I would like to hear what the county manager and county council are doing about it. They are the line people who are responsible. The Minister can only do so much. In addition, the Senator must accept that it was when her party was in government that it created the worst recession in the history of the State, which decimated the construction industry.