Mr. Mike Allen:

As the Deputy identified, there are huge issues for the social housing sector. If we ask what we must do in the budget, we come up with answers many people would not like ideologically because in the social housing market, the State is entering the private market and that is not working. The State must increase what it is willing to pay to private owners of property to take it into leasehold. Many people do not like that and that is part of the problem. We are going down a road where many people in the policy areas are holding their noses as they enter the market and they are being unsuccessful in the market. Some clarity is needed in that area because the amount of money the State is willing to pay in rent supplement or leasing agreements to secure privately-owned property is insufficient.