Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very happy to support this amendment, which is a good one. It is important that in the spirit of working together we support this, and I hope the Minister of State will support it. We have seen traditionally smaller co-operatives and community housing trusts establish units. It has worked. I have been to see a few of them in the west. Some projects have run into difficulties, and that must be acknowledged too, in terms of funding and the transfer of the structures around that. It is not anyone's fault, other than perhaps a lack of support for them at various levels through the process.

I am familiar with a number of religious trusts that have developed very effective housing, particularly in the city of Dublin.I am conscious of some in Waterford city, where congregations and religious communities have developed housing which has been very effective. They have drawn on some of their own resources. The spirit of the amendment is good. I would like to think the Minister of State will support it, or give good reasons for not doing so. It is worthy of support and I hope the Minister of State will give it that support today.