I have consistently raised the issue of the Irish Glass Bottle site on behalf of residents there. The Irish Glass Bottle site offered huge hope for families in Ringsend, Pearse Street and Sandymount. The residents fought really hard to have homes for the local community. However, the homes they hoped and fought for were undermined by the Government's bond with the big developers and the commitment to the market, as if the market was ever going deliver homes for the local community and those who need to secure a roof over their heads.

A relatively small number of homes on the site have recently been allocated to social housing applicants but, in the last few days, details have emerged that the future of affordable and social housing on this site is at risk. Lots of people and residents have contacted me really worried that their new beginnings will go up in smoke. It is important, in light of these revelations, to reassure those who have already been allocated their homes that those homes will be safe. The contract has been signed and they should be moving into those homes in the coming weeks. The existing social homes are safe. It is really important to stress that.

What is happening for the next phase of social and affordable homes is very unclear. Negotiations are ongoing and the article in the newspaper was referring to the next phase rather than the current phase of allocations. However, this is, in itself, a real worry and there are supposed to be 550 affordable homes on site to give relief to working people. The Government already undermined this by making these affordable rental as opposed to affordable purchase, which was a huge disappointment to residents. Of course, affordable purchase would have been a far better option for working families looking for long-term stability. Now, it is looking increasingly likely that affordable rentals will not be delivered.

This is beyond disappointing and very unfair on the residents and those who fought for the local community to get a fair share of those homes on the site. Once again, the community has been let down by the Minister and he still refuses to meet with the residents of the Irish Glass Bottle site. It is so disrespectful. It is hard to understand why he would not just sit down with, meet and speak to the residents of the Irish Glass Bottle site. The housing action group, which has worked really hard, is open to discussions and to finding solutions but the Minister has been disrespectful to them from start to finish and refused to meet them. He should agree to meet them.