Mr. Justin O'Brien:

My association was set up in 2003 and owns and manages 1,000 units. If we established it now we would not get start-up funding and would need serious financial clout to enable us to develop. It is very difficult for a new association without backing to develop. The truth is that very few new associations are looking for membership of the Irish Council for Social Housing because the context of delivery is very difficult. Some 15 years ago a housing association could get a 100% capital grant and grow, but that is no longer the case. It is the complete opposite.

The Deputy asked what our purpose is, if local authorities are doing everything right. We need to have an honest conversation. I am not trying to dismiss local authorities. They have delivered social housing over the lifetime of the State. A considerable amount of social housing has been sold via the process to enable people to buy their homes. Political choices were made. We see ourselves as complementing the provision of social housing in the country. That is our main purpose. We are a single-purpose organisation dedicated to social housing and need to enhance our ability to do that.

There are often changes of personnel in local authorities when people move from one section to another. As I said, we believe that with the funding available we can add value and grow what is in place. It is not a case of one body being against another. Most northern European countries, including Holland, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, have different approaches, but they have fairly vibrant social housing sectors alongside public housing bodies which are meeting social housing need.