Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that. It is a trap the State has been involved in for the best part of 30 years of having a temporary support measure while also having a need for capital spending. I take the figures of €134 million for RAS and €382 million for HAP. I take the point that, on average, it provides a home for in the region of €10,000 per year. Mr. Doyle is correct that the capital costs would be far greater but the borrowing costs for building those homes might be closer to the figure of €10,000 per year.

I come to the second part of the question in regard to the ESRI report. I do not expect Mr. Doyle to stray into Government policy but does he accept the premise that increased capital spending and reducing supports such as HAP and RAS is the future policy direction of the Department?