Mr. Owen Keegan:

I assure Deputies that there is huge enthusiasm among local authorities to build social housing. We were out of that market, not of our choice, for a number of years. We are back in that market and we are very enthused and delighted to be back in it. In our own particular case we have a target under the social housing strategy to deliver 3,300 units. We will far exceed that target, in fairness with the full support of the Department. As more funds become available for social housing, we have a huge list of potential schemes which we will be forwarding for approval. These are not just infill schemes. There are a lot of big schemes also. With regard to the process, concerns have been expressed about delay, and that is very understandable.

However, some of the things we have done, again with the support of the Department, include the use of emergency planning powers to accelerate schemes. We have used the accelerated restricted procedure, which is a shortened procurement procedure. We have piloted rapid-build and we are about to pilot multi-storey rapid-build. In respect of the formal approval process, we very much welcome the initiative for the smaller schemes and we hope to work with the Department to get a truncated approval process for the bigger schemes, but there is a lot happening in that space.

A question was asked about the refusal of NAMA units and I will ask Mr. Brady to reply to that one.