Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to again raise the issue of social and affordable housing that I raised on 2 March. This morning The Irish Timespublished an article about the O'Devaney Gardens, St. Michael's Estate and Oscar Traynor Road. The article highlighted the fact that 1,644 affordable and social units will be delayed because the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has not designed an affordable housing scheme. I find that totally unacceptable. In addition, the 900 units that were planned for the former Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend will also be delayed because no scheme has been designed to provide affordable housing.

On 2 March I raised this matter with the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy English. On that occasion I asked him to develop a pilot scheme that would enable this type of development to progress. I was told not to worry, that the Department was working hard and there was no need for a pilot scheme as a national scheme would be put in place. I realise now that there was a reason to worry as nearly 2,500 units for this city have been delayed and no scheme has been put in place.

As I walked up the stairs to this Chamber I thought that I would ask for the Leader to invite the Minister to come here today but I decided to be reasonable. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to attend here next week to discuss this very important issue. Badly needed social and affordable housing for this city should not be delayed just because the Department has not designed a scheme. On 2 March I was given a commitment in this House that the scheme would be developed and reassured that there was no need for a pilot scheme. We cannot adjourn for the summer knowing that 2,500 badly needed units for this city have been delayed due to a lack of action by the Department. I ask the Leader, at his earliest convenience, to invite the Minister to attend here next week to debate this important matter. We know work on these sites has been delayed but many more projects could have been delayed, which is totally unacceptable.