Mr. Ned Brennan:

I wish to make two points. First, we call on the Government to stop tinkering around with the mechanisms, such as the PRTB and so on, and concentrate on the core issue, which is removing the obstacles so that the sector can deliver social and family housing. Second, an opportunity has presented itself with the European Investment Fund in respect of cohesion and regional structural funds for the period 2014-20. If this was brought into the heart the scheme in respect of the retrofitting of thousands of local authority houses and apartments, it would be a real stimulus to the economy for job creation and delivering quality houses to people in need. The sector certainly has the skills and the abilities to play a lead role in that initiative.