I was very concerned about the lack of availability and affordability of housing in Cavan. There are virtually no properties available to rent privately and the few that are available are not affordable for most families, even with the housing assistance payment, if accepted by the landlords. This highlights the absolute need for social and affordable housing to be built.

Cavan County Council had an opportunity recently to have 24 social houses constructed in Cootehill on council land but five of the six councillors in the municipal area voted against the Part 8 arrangement that would have allowed construction to proceed. The five who voted against the development included two from Fianna Fáil, two from Fine Gael and one from Aontú, and the only person who voted in favour was a Sinn Féin councillor. Twenty-four houses in Cootehill would have made a huge difference to those seeking housing in the area, many of whom have been on the housing list for years and living in very poor conditions. The residents of a private housing estate objected to the proposal to locate the entrance of the new estate in their estate. That is why five of the six councillors voted against the development. What alternatives are there to construct social housing in Cootehill, but also in Cavan in general?

As I said earlier, my view is that we have to provide for social and affordable housing and move away from creating barriers to getting housing built in this country given the crisis that many people who cannot access housing currently experience. I do not know the specifics of the case in question or what happened so I cannot comment on it or on whether there is a mechanism for getting the houses delivered, but I am very conscious, as is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, that every mechanism that can be used by the State to provide housing should be used.