I welcome this morning’s Cabinet discussion about raising the cap on rent allowance. There is a commitment in the programme for Government regarding the turnaround time for vacant local authority houses. The Tánaiste is aware of the awful situation where local authorities, including our own in County Kerry, are waiting for funds to turn around housing units to make them habitable for new tenants. There is a commitment in the programme for Government in this regard. What has the new Minister for housing done to improve this situation? It is ridiculous to have thousands of people on housing waiting lists while there are local authority housing units in estates throughout the country which have lain idle, not just for weeks or months but for six months and 12 months. Will the Tánaiste do something to improve that and help hard-working housing departments in local authorities? They are pleading for help. We have great people working in the housing departments.

At the Cabinet sub-committee working on the range of issues concerning housing, there has been a strong focus and emphasis on ensuring the very situation described by the Deputy is dealt with. The increased funding to local authorities makes it more feasible in order that they can turn around these houses for suitable occupation much more quickly than they have done in the past. The number of voids is down. Progress is being made on houses in estates throughout the country which have been left for periods, as outlined by the Deputy. I agree with him that it is unacceptable that we should have any house left on an estate that is not refurbished and made suitable for tenants in a short time. It must be a key focus for local authorities. It is certainly a key focus for the Minister and will be part of his discussions with local authorities. The extra funding will ensure the local authorities have the resources to do precisely what the Deputy said.