We are once again in this Chamber debating affordable housing and the desperate need to deliver it. Cork City Council has been beating its targets in this regard for years. In fact, it exceeds them in many years. Right now, the council has been given a target of delivering 278 affordable houses and those homes are in the pipeline to be delivered. The problem is that the targets are too small and not ambitious enough. My colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, has set out a target of 4,000 homes a year, which would equate to a t…

That is not true.

First, I thank my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, for bringing forward this motion and working tirelessly for renters. Deputy Ó Broin has put forward really important motions, which we implore the Government to take on board. Speaking for myself, the housing crisis in Cork has never been as bad as it is now. I am working with more than 20 families who are facing eviction from next week up to September. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for those families. People are living in fear not knowing where they and the…

Not true.

You certainly could not put the Minister's comments on Twitter because people would see through them.

The Minister mentioned it.

Is the Minister's Department taking a macro view of the funding allocation across Departments to ensure fair distribution geographically? I am particularly thinking of the funding streams announced for projects across one local authority. Where money is being invested, it is not being done evenly. I am sure the Minister is aware of the area I wish to discuss and is cognisant of the neglect of the northside of Cork city.

I am very proud to come from Knocknaheeny. The northside of Cork city is one of the best places in the world. We have brilliant communities with brilliant people, amazing history and huge potential. When I was elected to the Dáil, I gave a commitment to the people who elected me that I would fight to end the neglect of the northside. Part of this is making sure that when Government allocates funding, it is given out evenly and fairly. However, that is not what is happening. I have spoken to people in Departments, a…

I will give the Minister a couple of facts. On the regeneration announcement for Cork, of €405 million, not one penny is going to the northside. On sustainable transport funding, there are 66 projects; 31 in the southside and 12 in the northside. Nearly €16 million is being spent on the southside and less than €6 million on the northside. These are the Government’s figures. These are the facts I am talking about. On Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, grants, there is €2 million for Cork City Council, only €300,…

These are the figures-----

The southern link road was built 20 years ago.

When will the northern link road be built?

Only €300,000.

There are concerns with this Bill. I hope the Minister will take on board the amendments we and others will bring forward to improve it. There are and have been concerns with the Government's role in judicial appointments over the past couple of years. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice did not agree to waive the pre-legislative scrutiny, PLS, on this. More importantly, the Minister has had to correct the record on responses to parliamentary questions. The days of the old boys' club has to end. People voted …

Yes. I appreciate there is considerable work to be discussed in this Bill. It is vitally important. We talk about the Judiciary but ordinary people on the ground have to feel protected and safe. I ask the Minister of State to raise that at Government.

Is the Taoiseach referring to Government Deputies?

I have to agree with the Taoiseach. I was in Croke Park in the past couple of weeks for Cork finals. We did not have much success but we are up there often. On a more serious matter, the Taoiseach is well aware of the Grattan Street Educate Together school in Cork. There are serious concerns about road safety for the students when they go to school in the mornings. There is a pedestrian crossing, but Cork City Council has said that it has no funding to provide a warden so students can cross the pedestrian crossing.…

We have a school where it is necessary for the people involved to go out and protest on Grattan Street because the children cannot go to school safely.

The Taoiseach knows the area well and it needs to be sorted.

It does not have the funding.