Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think they are all luxury. If Senator Warfield travelled to any of the places I just mentioned where there was a need for student accommodation, local communities, families and students welcomed student accommodation and want to see it. I accept that there is a need to look at the price and cost and to have the Minister come to the House to address the matter. Let us welcome the fact that we are building accommodation for students.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of the homeless figures. The Minister will come to the House to debate the matter. I will not get into a political debate with the Senator on it because we all accept that there is more to be done. Again, Senator Murnane O'Connor fails to recognise the highest ever housing budget, with more people leaving homelessness than going into it. It is important to recognise that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister of State at the same Department, Deputy English, have travelled the country and met local authorities. They have increased the rate of home building and put in place the highest ever housing budget. I have heard no proposals from Senator Murnane O'Connor about what she would do if she was the Minister, other than to come in and give out.