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

I have been monitoring the amount of leasing units local authorities are acquiring and we will keep monitoring it. I have indicated publicly on a number of occasions that I would like to return to more construction when the economy allows it. We will certainly be looking for opportunities in that regard, particularly in stimulus programmes considered by the Government. We are already in a stimulus programme in respect of insulation and will take every opportunity. In the meantime a considerable number of people are on housing waiting lists and we must use whatever ways we can to accommodate them, be it through the RAS, leasing or, increasingly, the voluntary sector. There is a limited amount of construction under the CAS programme. The CAS is effective because only one quarter of the money must come from the State. We will be using all of these methods. I accept the Deputy's point that we need to keep leasing under consideration to ensure it does not become too much of an ongoing revenue burden on the State.