Mr. Martin Whelan:

On whether local authorities had access to the social housing that we offered, it was a two-step process. In the first instance, as the housing authority in any functional area, local authorities are responsible for determining whether there is demand. They do that by reference to their own housing strategies. The first step in this process, therefore, was a confirmation or otherwise from local authorities. Thereafter, if demand was confirmed, we worked through the Housing Agency to make the units available in whatever way was deemed the most appropriate and efficient. In most instances, because of the capital constraints the Deputy raised, the preference was for long-term leasing and, as the NAMA CEO has said, rather than trying to recreate the wheel for every single lease, NARPS was set up. Local authorities had first option in terms of taking the units themselves, but it has to be said that because of capital constraints, the big focus moved to long-term leasing and it is through NARPS that we have sought to expedite or to facilitate that.