We can continue this discussion when the letter being prepared for Deputy Cowen is circulated to the rest of the committee.

On fast-track numbers, to date we have had one decision to grant which was for University College Dublin for over 2,000 bed spaces and one refusal for the Clay Farm development, comprising 927 residential units. As we come through this fast-track planning process, we need to understand why applications are successful and why they are not. Approximately 14 strategic housing development applications are on hand which cover 1,977 houses, over 1,300 apartments and 1,400 student bed spaces, which is just under 5,000 in total. In the consultation pre-application phase, there were 37 requests, totalling 8,700 homes and just under 5,000 student bed spaces. Not all of those consultation pre-applications have gone to application stage. At the last meeting on this, I was told there are about 4,000 to be submitted and the turnaround time for them is three months.

I have been discussing the skills issue with several people in the industry because there is a potential for a skills shortage, not just in housing building but infrastructure development across the country. We have ambitious plans to invest tens of billions of euro in all sorts of infrastructure projects over the next ten years. The Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, met with the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, last week to discuss this area. I have met with several groups which do skills training through different local authorities and schemes. Although it would not normally come through my Department, I am looking at several proposals for additional funding to see how we can fund some of the schemes. Those conversations are ongoing at the moment.

We are not talking necessarily about all of the skills and all the people we used to have in construction because of the amount done through prefabrication along with new innovations in construction methods and technology. For example, rapid build, which has become the industry norm, one is able to build houses with far fewer people. That does not mean that we are not going to always need people to finish these units on site with certain skills. I visited one centre which had taken ten long-term unemployed people, and one person who was homeless, into a construction skills course, got them the skills and certified them. Each person got a job within a week which shows the demand for these skills. This work is happening but there are several more matters to be addressed. We are engaging with the CIF to see what more can be done. Again, it is not just relevant to my Department but to several.

I discussed Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI, with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, during our last engagement. The heads of the Bill are being drafted and the timeline is to have the legislation introduced and passed later this year. It will ensure we can begin funding later this year for non-NAMA debtors under the terms of the legislation. This will be brought before the Dáil by the Minister for Finance. My Department obviously has a role in developing that legislation as it comes before the House.