Mr. Eugene Cummins:

The point we are making here today is that there is an availability issue and Waterford has a particular problem. The point was made about a three-bed house being available and being cheaper, perhaps €90,000 or less. There are two issues - there should be a need and it should not upset the mix of tenure. We have to be very careful there. There is a mechanism and the Department is quite willing to support us in it if there are properties that are good value, if there is a need, and if the mix of tenure is correct.

On the very valid point made about building on, there is an anomaly there and we are working on it. It happens if there is a medical issue. We are aware of that and we are looking into it at the moment.