Mr. Ned Brennan:

The second point is that Respond believes that, in line with the exemption from the household charge, approved housing bodies should be exempted from any proposed property tax. Along with local authorities, approved bodies provide housing for those unable to provide housing from their own resources.

The third area relates to the long-term viability of housing associations investing in social housing in regard to increased funding in the areas of the capital assistance scheme, the capital advance leasing facilities and the social housing leasing initiatives. Respond believes that the Department has not had a realistic assessment of balance sheet capacities of approved housing bodies in the sector in regard to their ability to support sustainable borrowings to meet significant housing requirements in future years.

These considerations among more can be truly assessed in a Green Paper on housing. Greater, well-researched and creatively based housing policies and programmes are essential if a national housing policy is to move forward. The final area is a pilot scheme for better being in terms of addressing mental health problems among low income families on estates.