I want to raise the issue of an email I received from my local authority last week regarding an email from the Department of housing saying that the local authority was not to proceed with 73 social homes and a community building under PPP bundle 3 at a site in Ardrew in my hometown of Athy. My understanding is that in this case the preferred bidder was selected as long ago as last October.

The reply from the Department of housing told us that after careful consideration, the Department has decided not to go ahead with 486 homes under PPP bundle 3. There are over 800 people on the social housing waiting list in Athy alone. Can the Tánaiste give assurances to them that those 73 social homes and that community building will proceed as quickly as possible? It is not acceptable in this housing emergency to be left with 73 homes not proceeding. It is something the people of Athy and the people involved in the other four sites and 486 homes would like to know.

I thank the Deputy for bringing up this issue. I undertake to pass that on directly to the Minister for housing and ask him to look into the matter immediately with the local authority and come back to the Deputy directly on the issue. There is a housing emergency. We need to build homes and take every opportunity to do so. We will have a national development plan review next month which will significantly increase further investment in housing and housing-enabling infrastructure. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to look at the issue affecting the Deputy's constituents.