Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank members for their questions which I will go through one at a time. As there were a few common themes, I can refer to them as I go along.

Deputy Brian Stanley's main query concerned the cost-effectiveness of leasing. He referred to a figure of 300. That is the number of units delivered through the CAS. The Deputy knows the kind of strictures on us in terms of the public finances. For approximately €7,500 a year, we can house somebody on a housing list under the leasing scheme. I know that in the longer term there is a recurrent cost every year, but given the crisis we face as a country because we are going through very difficult times, a value for money audit was carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the cost-effectiveness of leasing and it was considered to be cost-effective. We need to look at this again, however, because there are issues around leasing that have recurrent costs-----