(Cavan-Monaghan): May I ask one question?

No. I am calling Question No. 18.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister agree that because the cost of building houses has increased substantially we need more rather than fewer local authority houses?

I would not agree. There is now a bigger percentage of families of three looking for houses than was the case two or three years ago. The percentage is increasing all the time.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The price of building a new house has gone up by over 33? per cent since the Minister came into power. Therefore it is more difficult for people to build their own houses.

That is a separate question.

Despite what the Deputy says there are more people building private houses now.

(Cavan-Monaghan): There are far more people being pushed off the housing list now.

The housing lists are not getting out of hand.

They are getting longer.

There is less money for building houses.