Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think anyone is entitled to say any particular group was responsible for the social housing programme in Ireland. The Administration at the foundation of the State started a social housing programme that was continued by successive Governments. One of the reasons we are where we are is that prior to the crash in 2007, the social housing programme had all but ceased. It had been subcontracted to the private sector. Since the foundation of the State, social housing has appeared in many incarnations. Some involved farmers providing plots to allow social housing to be built in rural settings. That is no more. A typical village might have been built by way of building a number of houses in successive years. That was normal and very practical.Some very large housing estates were built. In several areas of my city, the estates were too big. Estates such as Moyross and Southill involved the construction of up to 1,000 houses in one area. We are where we are because State housing provision almost come to a halt under Fianna Fáil. We started the rebuilding programme in 2011 and are trying to catch up. Some 20,000 units were built last year. It is still a supply side issue. I wish to point out the positives as well as the things that could be done slightly differently.

On the supply side, I ask that the analysis carried out by the Department be provided. Many cases builders and developers have stated that it is not affordable to build houses at market rates. Has the Department carried out empirical research to determine at which level and price houses can be built such that builders make a return?

On affordable housing, many people, particularly young people, welcome the Rebuilding Ireland programme but many of them are not getting the required level of funding. These are people in permanent jobs. Many young teachers and gardaí have come to me on this issue. What is the Minister's view on how the Rebuilding Ireland affordable loan scheme is working and so forth?

Reference was made to local authorities. The Land Development Agency is considering building affordable housing on public lands.

I refer to the level of due diligence carried out at departmental level regarding social housing building projects by local authorities. In some cases, the projects and their locations are not sustainable and the due diligence that should have been carried out on the projects on day one was inadequate. We want houses to be built but we must ensure that there are proper services in the areas in which house building is proposed. It it not about ticking boxes but rather ensuring sustainable development. I feel very strongly about the issues encountered by people who wish to avail of social housing and, obviously, the areas in which local authorities are considering development. That is a key element.

I have referred to the importance of supply and empirical work to determine the level at which there is a return for builders on building private houses I asked the Minister for his view on how the Rebuilding Ireland affordable loan scheme is working and raised the issue of proper due diligence on social housing proposals put forward by local authorities. We need to build social housing in a sustainable way. We must seek to reduce the time between an application being made and a JCB moving in on site to begin construction, especially in the case of social housing. The issues I have raised are practical examples of those with which I deal on the ground with constituents in Limerick city.