Mr. Donal McManus:

In terms of the issue Senator Keane raised about bricks and mortar, there has been a shift from 100% funding for bricks and mortar to some State money and some private money. There will be bricks and mortar but it will be spread between some limited State money and some private finance. With the new mixed funding arrangement, one could build three new houses compared with one house in the past for 100% finance. That is the shift. There is nothing inherently wrong with moving from 100% capital to revenue as long as it is balanced. That goes back to what Deputy Murphy mentioned about drawing down the money. The drawdown process is more complicated and the hurdles need to be overcome in that respect, but the shift from 100% funding to 60% or 70% is doable. It has happened throughout the world and does mean one is providing three social houses with bricks and mortar for one through 100% funding.