Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Ruane and Higgins for their amendment. It proposes to add another subsection, presumably (7), to section 6 which is the provision of dwellings by housing authorities. Affordable dwellings will be provided by housing authorities with assistance from the Department, including from the serviced sites fund where a clear need has been identified for such. The process sees council members consider the broader housing tenure mix and need in their local authority area in line with the programme for Government commitments to direct provision for social housing by local authorities to increase. Obviously that is linked directly to the capital plan in terms of housing numbers. It is also not considered that this could be to the detriment of the provision of social housing by a housing authority. Accordingly, I do not consider the amendment to be necessary.