Access to affordable housing was, arguably, the biggest topic during last February's general election campaign. It is little wonder, given that people had endured years of failed policy that left them paying extortionate rents and there was an inability on the part of practically an entire generation to access affordable housing and precious little council housing. This was an approach by a Government that the Taoiseach's party supported fully for a number of years so it is probably not all that surprising that the commentary on housing in the programme for Government is so lame. It represents more of the same, it is disappointing and it is a recipe for failure.

Last evening, the Government voted against a motion brought forward by my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, that set out real solutions to affordable housing and the bones of a plan for the most ambitious public housing programme in the history of the State.

The Deputy's time is up.

Be in no doubt that this is the scale of ambition required to deliver affordable housing to our people. I have a question for the Taoiseach. On the basis of what the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government stated last night, why is it that people will have to wait until September to see the new Government's plan for affordable housing? Why is it that the Government will lose so many weeks and months on this-----

Deputy, please. Your time is up.

-----given that the Taoiseach has said he understands the immediacy of the matter and that he has not wasted a minute since coming into office? Why is there such a delay on this? Why face down the fully reasonable and ambitious plan articulated by our housing spokesperson last evening?

Whatever about wasting a minute, the Deputy has taken an extra minute.

I will take it when I can.

I welcome the conversion of the Deputy and the Sinn Féin Party to affordable housing, especially as, during the lifetime of the previous Dáil, Sinn Féin voted against a Fianna Fáil motion on affordable housing. The programme for Government-----

It has no spending commitments and no targets. It is a waste of paper.

I have the floor for just a minute. I know the Ceann Comhairle is very anxious that I do not overstay my time in responding to this question. The key point is that the programme for Government is very comprehensive on the matter of affordable housing.

There are no targets.

It is a core part of our policy to enable people to get to a position where they can afford houses. The State will be far more involved as a result of the programme for Government in providing the wherewithal, either through the local authorities or the Land Development Agency, to provide affordable housing. It is something to which we are very committed. There are a number of schemes outlined.

No targets.

The Deputies can take it that the new Minister will pursue this with great energy.