Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

No, the local authorities always put forward the projects. They have their funding, which I have outlined, for 2017.

In the context of the issues for those on housing lists, the choice-based letting that happened in Cork is a good example. Choice-based letting should be rolled out across the country. Let me just say that out straight. It may need to be tweaked a little or whatever - I am open to that. It is a good policy. When people are written to by local authorities and they do not engage, I do not know what local authorities are meant to do. There has to be some form of responsibility for re-engaging. Choice-based letting is actually a very good policy. It shortens the period for which houses are left to be viewed by people, etc. People get to look at properties, to know where they are going and so on. It removes all the issues about people looking at locations and all of that sort of stuff. It gives way more flexibility. That is important.

I want to come back to some of the other questions that were asked. I was very much taken by Deputy Wallace's contribution.

Maybe Deputy Wallace should flip sides and be interviewed here, given his experience.