Housing Provision
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-11
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Timmy Dooley (FF), Clare

I thank the Deputy. Of course, I know of his significant interest in homes and housing. He has been and continues to be a strong advocate. There is a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation from the Department's perspective. It is looking at the overall delivery of social homes and it is on target and on budget. To get into micromanagement is a bit of a challenge for the Department but I will certainly raise the issue with the Minister.
The fact that the Deputy is raising the issue is giving vent to his concerns. Engagement with Wicklow County Council is needed. The Deputy was a member of a local authority and knows about that sort of engagement. Perhaps some collective work could be done to include the Minister and the Deputy, working with the councillors and the county manager, the chief executive. Perhaps a meeting could be arranged in Leinster House, and I am happy to facilitate that. The Deputy is well able to manage it but if he needs any assistance from me, I am happy to do that. Sometimes it takes a nudge to spark action. The county-wide approach is doing well, with 125% of its target achieved, but that is cold comfort to someone who is in the Deputy's constituency office and whose son or daughter wants to remain in Arklow, live their life there alongside their parents, siblings or whoever it might be, and is told there is a home in Gorey or wherever else. Up the road does not wash. I am happy to work with the Deputy. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Browne. Perhaps we, collectively, can organise a meeting that involves a representative of the council, either the person involved in housing activation in Wicklow County Council, the director of service or the chief executive, to address this important issue. I thank the Deputy for his advocacy on this and many other issues.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-11