Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This politics is performative for the Deputy. He knows our local authorities are building more homes. He knows more money is going into the local authorities to do this. He knows our delivery of social housing is increasing year after year. He is aware of the efforts being made, including in apprenticeship programmes, to make construction a more attractive career for people to go into. The Deputy knows all of this. I find it extraordinary that a man who does not have a good word to say about the operation of economies is quoting a stockbroking report in the way he is and wringing his hands that the private sector cannot do more when he is always critical and excoriating of the role of the private sector in the delivery of homes.

I will revert to what I said at the start of our exchange. We need two things. We are in the middle of such need and such challenge in the delivery of more homes that we require the private sector to do more. Where market failure is occurring, and even where it is not occurring, we need a strong State that is delivering more homes to fulfil our commitments to citizens who need social housing. That is happening. The figures that will be published by the Government tomorrow will indicate the progress that we are making this year alone in delivering that.

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