Dr. Donal McManus:

There were gaps in the housing system and the sector responded on the special needs side. It could bring support on housing in the Chairman's area as well. There was a lot of local activity carried out by voluntary organisations. Initially we majored on special needs and then we moved into more family type housing because housing management added value. The Chairman is asking why we are providing family housing and we are doing so because people in the sector such as Ms Donaghy and others were housing professionals who provided a house management service and assisted the local authorities, even in rejuvenation and rehabilitation schemes so there is added value there. The first early social housing was in the sector by The Iveagh Trust prior to the formation of the State and they were big blocks of 300 to 400 units which were successful. Local authorities took over but the sector majored on special needs and then moved in where it felt it could add something. We are not trying to take over local authorities. We are trying to add value to the local authorities to offer choice for people on the waiting list. There was a very limited choice for people in housing in Ireland. One either went to council housing and got housed, bought a house out in ten years or bought one's own house. There were no real options for people outside of standard type housing. We are here because we address gaps in the housing system and then we thought the sector was adding value and local authorities feel they can work with us to add value. We are not trying to replace them but we can add value and this is 2018, not 1973.