Response of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to Covid-19: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2021-01-28
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Catherine Connolly (IND), Galway West

That is great. It is an absolutely damning indictment of every Government's housing policy. Simon does not say that, of course; they simply give us a snapshot. This is the eighteenth snapshot. Let us consider Galway city and the suburbs, which are divided into two categories. There is not one property available under the HAP limits in Galway city. There are three in the suburbs. Simon has done a number of these reports and this is the eleventh time out of 16 reviews where no property is available. I ask the Minister to really look at that and perhaps come back to tell us we need a new approach to housing. I believe that he believes in public housing but I think he is a bit mixed up in his head on some issues. I wish to put on the record that I believe in public housing on public land. It is a must. We must give a strong message to the market that we need public housing on public land. Let us listen to that word "public". It takes in quite a variation of types of houses and cost-rental.
My second question is, again, one to which I would like to get a "Yes" or "No" reply. Has the Minister ever received a report from the emergency housing task force that was set up in Galway? It was announced in February or March and is meeting since April almost two years ago. Has the Minister ever received a written report with recommendations?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2021-01-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:00+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-01-28