Local authorities have a case to answer but, ultimately, the buck stops with central government. I remind the Tánaiste that this Administration has cut council housing budgets by 25% since it took office. In light of the seriousness of the issues raised in the complaint to which I refer, will the Tánaiste facilitate a Dáil debate on the matter? More importantly, will she indicate when the funds local authorities need to address the chronic damp and disrepair that are all too common in our public housing stock will be released?

I understand that proposals relating to the water services Bill are due to come before the Cabinet in a short period.

The construction contracts legislation to which the Deputy refers has already been enacted. Certain parts of the Act are awaiting the provision of a ministerial order in the context of an implementation date. The relevant Minister has been contacted in respect of this matter.

The complaint that has been made to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of housing is a matter for that body. In the context of renovating and renewing houses, apartments or flats that are in poor condition, the Deputy will be aware that we recently announced the largest housing investment budget in the history of the State which will cover the period up to 2020.

The Tánaiste will not be here at that stage.

All local authorities have been involved in detailed discussions with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with a view to drawing down the appropriate allocations.

However, they are still awaiting their allocations.

Dublin City Council has been given a significant allocation in order that it might deal with the issue of boarded up and voided apartments. We want the practice of boarding up or voiding dwellings to be brought to an end. Obviously, however, this is a matter for local authority members. Local authorities have received significant amounts of funding in recent years to assist them in dealing with these issues. Local authorities and the elected members thereof must get on with it and ensure that the money which has been allocated will be drawn down and spent. It can take a disappointingly long time for the latter to happen. A number of the people sitting opposite formerly served as members of local authorities. Some local authorities have received funding and we want them to take action in the context of using it as quickly as possible.