Mr. Michael Layde:

It is multi-annual. If funding is made available to us, we will be able to draw it down within that period.

The Senator also asked about the homeless. We envisage that a significant number of units will go towards homeless people, but we are still at the stage of progressing the application rather than implementing the initiative.

As to people remaining in social housing, differentiation was the point of lists. The basis of this work is the establishment of whether there is a housing need and whether that is continuing. If so, it must be met by the housing authority. For many years it has been the case that if someone in a household passes away, other family members can remain in the house subject to an assessment of continuing need.

I am unsure of the Senator's issue with self-builds. They are permissible. New building control regulations are in place in that regard, as they are in respect of all forms of construction, to try to avoid some of the excesses and mistakes of the past. Subject to compliance with those regulations, there is no prohibition on self-builds.

I note the Senator's welcome of our work on voids and regeneration. We are committed to continuing in that respect.