Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We recognise as a Government that our first priority is to deliver a housing programme. Central to that is a commitment to a belief in social and council housing. We are doing that, putting money behind it and we are actually delivering that housing. That might not suit the mantra of some people but I am confident in saying that. I know it without any doubt. If we stick to this Rebuilding Ireland plan, which we are reviewing today, we will have solved the housing situation. I have no doubt about that. I worked through the Action Plan for Jobs, when Deputy Bruton was the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, during those five years. I recall that in year two and the early part of year three people were doubting whether the Action Plan for Jobs was going to work and if it would deliver jobs.

There were not saying that at the end of years three, four and five when the plan had doubled the output of jobs it was meant to achieve. Over 200,000 jobs were created by that Fine Gael and Labour Government. This is the same logic and the same approach. It is action by action, focussed delivery bringing all of the stakeholders together and making sure we spend taxpayers' money wisely. This is the same logical approach we are taking in this five-year plan. We are just at the end of year two now and it will solve the housing situation. I have no doubt about that. I say it with confidence, having been involved in both processes and the work that went on. The need to intensify and accelerate new building activity is to the fore of our strategic planning. Again, I hear people complaining week in and week out that the HAP system is not great and that it does not work.

Nobody has said that it is a perfect system but it is helping 40,000 people to have homes. In most of those cases it is working very well, but in some it is not. We will hear about those stories and we will deal with them. They often get related in debate as well. It is not true to say, however, that it is not working for 40,000 people. It is fair to say that it is not the permanent, long-term solution any of us want.