Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall. Cuirim fáilte go dtí an choiste inniu. I thank each of the witnesses and their housing teams for the work they are doing. The homelessness crisis is acute throughout the country and I am aware from visiting local authorities and my own local authority in Fingal of the volume of work and emergency work that takes place. The response has to be almost immediate and it is stressful for staff, which we cannot forget. It is also stressful for people who are presenting in chaotic and difficult circumstances after being evicted or where a tenancy has been, or is due to be, ended. I ask our guests to convey to their housing teams and the people associated with them my thanks and the thanks of the committee for the work they do every day, seven days per week. I genuinely appreciate it.

My colleagues have covered a number of items so I will just make some brief comments. I was interested in the question about affordability. It emanated from the fact that the serviced site fund has increased to €310 million over three years. An affordable housing scheme will be established and it will focus on areas where there are affordability issues. I do not expect that it will be opened in areas where there are no such issues. I have a question on the Rebuilding Ireland loans, improvements to that system, common criteria and common financial underwriting. Is Mr. Mahon the chairman of housing in the CCMA?