That is an extraordinary number of people, and it is a wonderful project. We will work with the Deputy on that.

I thank the Deputy.

As I have said repeatedly, before the previous Government came to office, approximately 19,000 to 20,000 houses were being built per annum. It is now well over 30,000 houses, which is a significant change in momentum. This is mainly because of State investment at an unprecedented scale. We have a clear focus in terms of what we need to do. It is in terms of maintaining and increasing public expenditure but also getting far more private sector investment involved. With the greatest respect, this is a very serious is…

I want to put the focus on-----

When we bring proposals, however, to the House-----

We will be bringing forward a series of proposals - the decision yesterday on planning was a good one - and further initiatives on housing. I hope we will get the support of the House as we implement those decisions.

I thank Deputy McCarthy for raising the issue of Shanagarry, which is famed for its pottery and so on. I will raise the issue with Uisce Éireann. There is a town and villages scheme, as the Deputy knows, that had limitations regarding funding. There is engagement, and a memorandum is being worked up, it is my understanding, by Irish Water in respect of local developers that are developing a particular housing site being in a position to develop its own wastewater treatment plant in accordance with the specification…

I can recall two years ago when Sinn Féin was arguing and advocating very strongly that Government would do more to provide accommodation for those seeking asylum.

That was Sinn Féin's position then and Government did respond to its advocacy and others', and the international law, in terms of procuring services. The Department of children had to procure services in an accelerated way. The cost of those services is expensive. There is no question about that. In fact, Government is legally vulnerable if it does not provide such services or such supports, which Sinn Féin argued very strongly for.

I know now Sinn Féin has changed tack a bit and is moving in a different direction. I understand that. Politics is always supreme with it, but I-----

I am not commenting on individuals.

I am not allowed to comment on individuals in the House-----

-----and nor should the Deputy.

I do not know the case.

Government did a lot over the last number of years in respect of a whole series of reforms that were implemented in respect of insurance. Some premia came down; some have gone back up again. There is an onus on the insurance industry to respond to the reforms that the Government delivered with a view to reducing costs. The Government has re-established the subcommittee on insurance. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, is involved in that with others. We will pursue further reforms. I have to say that Government can…

Is this a private sector project the Deputy is talking about?

No, the ISIF is-----

I am all for that. We are all for that, and the Government has done a lot on promoting policies in terms of investment in film through our tax incentives and so on. The ISIF invests commercially. It is not equivalent to the Government giving grants or anything like that. It weighs up commercial criteria and decides to invest on the basis of that, and that is a good thing. It has obviously worked with this particular project. I am not familiar with the background reasons as to why the project has not proceeded at th…

I thank the Deputy and appreciate the compliments he articulated in respect of the local authority being co-operative and proactive in terms of taking in charge unfinished estates. Where positive comments are made in respect of the performance of a local authority, that needs to be said, rather than just criticisms. I take the Deputy's point. We need to review the interaction between Uisce Éireann and local authorities. While I understand on one level Uisce Éireann's focus on large conurbations, the bottom line is …

Yesterday, Deputy Brendan Smith raised issues pertaining to the submission made by the Irish Wheelchair Association, and I responded to some aspects of that. Deputy Ward is focusing more on transport issues.