Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The work done by both organisations is heroic. I met the witnesses previously and they briefed me for which I thank them. We are looking at 100,000 people. I know the witnesses said the figure was 59,000 but there are others in that space. I know we discussed this previously. This is a legacy issue from Part V. While the intention of that device was to create communities where all types of people could live together, it failed during the recession. Developers instead of local authorities were tasked with providing housing. When they stopped building, no social housing was built. Typically, the local authorities would build during recessions because it was cheaper. This is has left us in the space in which we find ourselves. HAP and other measures are filling that gap. I think something close to €700 million was spent each year, which could build quite a few houses. I have said previously that the State should not be fuelling the private market, which is what it is doing. Deputy Ó Broin spoke about capping the rental market and how we fix that problem. I know and Senator Fitzpatrick mentioned that there are provisions in the programme for Government to look to build affordable models through the Land Development Agency.

If housing does come, do the witnesses have faith in the ability of the programme for Government to deliver? Regarding the figure of 15,000 more HAP tenancies next year, when do the witnesses see that going backwards? If it goes backwards, we will begin to see less pressure and demand on those private rental spaces. I see this as a short-term measure. It was meant to have been short term but it has got longer. It cannot go on because it is just fuelling that private market.

Do the witnesses have faith in the programme for Government commitment to pull back on this measure?