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

I think a lot of people are appreciative of the fact that they are able to get private rental accommodation which they can source themselves, in a location that they want to be in and still be supported by the State, which was not the case under previous schemes. That is one of the benefits of HAP and the reason it is proving to be successful. I do not think we have a different view on HAP. I would not have designed the scheme like this way back when. This was born out of necessity, based on what faced us when we did not have the stock in place to meet the needs of our people. That said, there would still be a need for private rental support for people in the private rental market. I think it is a good thing in that it gives people flexibility and achieves certain social goods, such as promoting mixed communities. I think there should always be a State support available to help people to source their own accommodation on the private rental market. It is something that will continue. However, I am cognisant of the fact that our social housing stock is far too low. That is why Rebuilding Ireland makes the commitment to increase that stock by at least 50,000, and to build on that in Project Ireland 2040.

In relation to the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, this would have been published by now but for Storm Emma and a few other things. As soon as Deputy Ó Broin lets me out of this committee I will endeavour to get it out this week.