Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Forgive me, this will be very quick. I am involved in trying to progress a project comprising 40 public housing units on Fenian Street. The Department seems to be doing its best to delay the building of those 40 units by constantly asking for additional information. Those units will be public housing for people on housing lists. I fully support the project. During the summer, the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, attempted to transfer two pieces of land in Poolbeg west to Dublin City Council for the provision of social and affordable housing and affordable rental accommodation. That was blocked by the Minister of State's Department. I would like to know why. My understanding from the report in The Irish Timesis that this was agreed between NAMA and Mr. Owen Keegan and Mr. Richard Shakespeare of Dublin City Council. When it went to the Department it was knocked back. If we really want to provide housing, let us do the practical things. Let us find out what is happening within the Department. Why are these capital investments in housing being knocked back, not just in Dublin but in Carlow, Limerick and Cork? Let us clear the lines and start building.