Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Michelle Norris and her colleagues for the presentation. I am very interested to hear everything she has to say. It is interesting that the HFA has expanded its role since 1996 and can now lend to the local authorities for water, waste and environmental capital projects in addition to the original remit for housing. Will one of the delegation give me an example of an environmental project that the HFA would have been involved in? I am thinking of the Dublin City Council proposal to bring water from the Shannon to Dublin. There is a requirement to fund that big project to take water from the River Shannon to the city. I have an interest because it is proposed to hold the water in Garryhinch in my constituency, where the water could be contained before it is pumped further to Dublin. Is that the type of project that the HFA could possibly fund? I am not asking specifically about that project. Could the HFA fund a project on that scale? A project of that type would have a knock-on effect on the community. Other project would have cultural facets. Does the HFA take account of that? Has the HFA engaged in such a project previously?

I note the HFA provides an investment facility for local authorities. May I have an indication of how many local authorities avail of this service? How has that investment fared out?