Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will not propagate it if it is not fully correct information, but perhaps this points to the problem, namely, trying to get a handle on the correct figures for the output in terms of social build. I am not referring to AHB builds but local authority builds. I take on board the Minister's assertion that this figure is not correct, but he might confirm whether it is correct to say that 1,757 voids were brought back into use. That would be a good and impressive figure. As reported in The Irish Times, 543 of that number were in Dublin city, 168 were in Donegal and 121 were in Fingal. That is an achievement and a positive news story and I would be interested in hearing the Minister's thoughts on it. Rather than citing the article any further, the Minister might circulate in the next few days the correct figure for the direct social housing build in 2017.

I acknowledge the positives that are happening. Cork is in the national media today. We read that plans for 600 new homes are to be submitted to Cork City Council next month, making it the authority's landmark project to tackle the housing shortage on Leeside. The 22 acre site will be the single largest housing development in the city. We must concentrate on positive news, and this is positive news. In conjunction with the city council, Cork County Council has drafted major plans for new council designs. This is also positive. It is important that we use every model to develop housing.

All of the Members present are close to our 959 or so local councillors throughout the country. The Minister used to be a council member, so he also has this experience. He also has significant levels of contact with his group across the 31 councils. Councillors are frustrated with the slowness of the process. Some of the chief executives and housing authorities are frustrated. Everyone wants progress and to be positive, so what is the problem? Can we increase the level of direct builds?

I read something else today. All of this information is coming from the media, so I would like the Minister to correct me if I am wrong. The Taoiseach commented on the possibility of the Government acquiring more private land. That is not necessary. I have taken the time to have an assessment done of some of our local authorities' landbanks. The Minister knows the details from his own research. There are substantial landbanks on most of the authorities' books. As such, we must ask why the Government is not pushing for a greater level of social housing building on council lands. It is what the public wants and expects. I do not wish to frustrate the private sector in this regard, but it is important that we embark on an ambitious plan. I am familiar with a number of social housing schemes in the Dublin and Kildare areas that were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Some comprised 300 houses. I am not suggesting that we want schemes with 300 houses now, but their planners were ambitious. The Minister is ambitious as well, but I am not convinced that we have set the targets for local authorities high enough. I would be interested in the Minister's response. What sanctions can he bring to bear on a local authority that does not perform on what are very low targets?

I do not wish to dwell on this matter any further because I am conscious that the Minister is busy and I have other opportunities through the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government to engage with him. I thank him for that ongoing engagement.

How can we work better with elected members of local authorities and council management? The Minister cannot micromanage the local authorities, but he can incentivise them. He also has the power to sanction them, even though he might not want to use it. If councils do not perform or possess the necessary expertise, I would like to believe that the Minister would send them that expertise by seconding to them able staff from his Department or the private sector.

Let us raise the bar higher and have greater ambition for the delivery of social housing on underutilised State lands, including ports like Galway and Dún Laoghaire. I thank the Minister for his time.