Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Rapid-build housing was initially brought in as a policy response in the context of homelessness but things have changed very quickly since then. Rapid build has almost become the industry standard. One of the things we discussed at the housing summit on Monday was the need to stop separating rapid and non-rapid builds in terms of local authority housing in our minds. The local authority chief executives said to me that as rapid build will become the default, we should stop reporting it as something separate. All developments should be proceeding as rapid builds and if they are not, we need to know why not and what reason a body would have for not using that type of construction. We know it works and provides incredibly good quality and standard buildings. It is a quicker way of ramping up delivery.

The legislation on rent pressure zones, RPZs, which effectively introduced rent caps in certain areas, is new. We have reviewed its impact and how it is working, and that work is almost completed. There are two qualifying criteria under which an area comes under the designation of an RPZ. In the last quarterly report, no new area came under that designation. I understand the point that some people make, that while rent inflation in four of the six previous quarters was above 7% in some places, it still does not get above the average rent of the country because certain parts of the country, such as Dublin, increase the average. I hear those points. We are looking at these issues at the moment.

On the mortgage threshold and the individual couple mentioned who were having difficulties, we are reviewing income limits. That work is being conducted by the Housing Agency, and I believe we will have a report in first or second quarter of this year on that issue. Some people will have difficulties in this regard. I am not sure if that couple will be eligible for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan.