Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

With all due respect, the priorities around housing delivery in Galway City Council and Galway County Council are a matter for Galway City Council and Galway County Council. Our Government sets the policy agenda through Housing for All, but it is down to the local authority to strike the balance in respect of social and affordable housing delivery. That is a matter for the elected members of those councils to prioritise. Again, I stress the point that it goes back to the local authority. If the Senator feels that the local authorities are not delivering enough in that regard, it is really a matter for them to drive a more ambitious agenda. As I said in closing, our Department will not be found wanting in funding schemes. There is also the first home scheme and the affordable purchase scheme. We are delivering a range of schemes under Housing for All as well as Croí Cónaithe. There are other options available in respect of Town Centre First and infill delivery of housing. We should be looking at innovation in the urban centre. That is critical. Really, though, it is a matter for the local authority to set the agenda.

I will take back the points the Senator has raised to our Department for further engagement with the local authority and to try to achieve a greater balance and greater ambition because we will fund that ambition.