Doherty says Govt 'incompetence' putting housing developments at risk
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty has said the Government's incompetence is putting the development of thousands of homes at risk.
He said that two senior civil servants have now sounded the alarm around huge infrastructure deficits.
There is a lack of capacity in both water services and the electricity grid, Mr Doherty said.
"Money is not the problem, so the problem must be the incompetence and decisions made over and over again," he said.
Tánaiste Simon Harris responded saying that housing is the biggest domestic challenge the country faces.
Mr Harris said more than 133,000 new build homes were delivered between 2020 and 2024.
He told the Dáil that Government would speed up the delivery of planning and provide more funding for water and electricity to deliver 300,000 new homes.
The Tánaiste said he would not take a lecture from Sinn Féin on water and he accused the party of misleading people about the Government's intentions around Uisce Éireann.
O'Callaghan questions Tánaiste on assessments waiting list
Meanwhile, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan pressed the Tánaiste on the Government's lack of action since a court judgment three years ago outlawed the accelerated procedure for assessments of need.
He said the coalition had failed to respond to the crisis in the area with 15,000 children now waiting for assessments.
Mr O'Callaghan said this was having a huge impact and the list was forecast to grow to 25,000 by the end of the year.
Mr Harris said there was an agreed way forward by Government and the legislation would be amended.
He said he believed that clinicians should decide the length of time for assessments.
Mr Harris added that one-third of children who go through the assessment of need process are told they do not have a disability and he said these children needed clarity more quickly.
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