Ms Catherine Keenan:

Deputy Ó Broin asked about the Land Development Agency, LDA. If we are developing our own sites and at the same time the LDA develops sites such as Dundrum, then the social and affordable housing could come more quickly, which is to be welcomed. Waiting times are approximately ten years but I can clarify that. With regard to delivery, some options which have not been mentioned are housing assistance payment, HAP, rental accommodation scheme, RAS, and leasing. There are other options. These are options which many of our tenants actually want. That will help with the entire delivery programme.

We are currently negotiating 43 Part 5 sites which would deliver 498 units. The issue of Shanganagh is about affordability on our own lands and not the market price. We are currently working with the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, looking at funding options. As part of that, I am obliged to look at a public private partnership, PPP, with the NDFA. That does not mean that is the outcome. It is part of what I am obliged to do. While we might all intuitively feel that social and affordable housing is the right thing to do, I still have to follow procedures. We are awaiting the outcome of that but in the meantime we did not hold back on Shanganagh in any way. We went to the design team to progress with the master plan.