Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before the end of this year, I would like a fair amount of time to be set aside to have a comprehensive debate with the relevant Minister or Minister of State on Rebuilding Ireland. It is one of the most important Government policies. We discussed all aspects of it at great length in the Seanad. The Minister sought support from us for legislative change in regard to many aspects of the plan. I do not want to go into any great detail; suffice it to say that, with regard to the measures relevant to fast-tracking planning through An Bord Pleanála and its IT system, there are extraordinary circumstances in which people all over this country cannot view appeals, lodge objections or concerns, express opinions or even support applications without having to come to Marlborough Street in Dublin. That is very Dublin-centric and very unsatisfactory.

Rebuilding Ireland is critical in terms of housing. We have a major housing crisis. Somebody asked me at the joint committee meeting this morning why our 31 local authorities, the housing authorities, are not building houses, why the hundreds of hectares in their ownership are not being used and why there is no direct provision of social and affordable housing. There is also a crisis in the rental sector. Therefore, there is a major crisis with regard to the rental sector, affordable and social housing, and the purchasing of ordinary houses. It would be appropriate for the Minister to come back now to update us on the progress on the key Government policy in question. I ask the Leader to devote considerable time to this and to set aside a few hours because there will be a lot of interest.