Ms Maria Graham:

I thank the Deputy for recalling the national vacant housing reuse strategy.

One of the issues we are looking at in the vacant homes and the town centre first policy is how we bring together all of the actions that are specific to towns. I will reflect on the point the committee is making on the targets. Our social housing people are very conscious of the need for flexibility and many of these schemes are dependent on people coming forward with them. They want to ensure they maximise their social housing numbers and they do not want the target to be something that is not met for that reason. That said, I will reflect on the points the Deputy has made. This is one of the issues that will be considered in the context of the delivery action plans but we will also look at in the context of the broader town centre first and the vacant homes policies and the strategies that local authorities will have to deal with vacancy.

I might ask Mr. Hogan and Mr. O'Sullivan to add further.