Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I will certainly be coming back to this. I thank Ms O'Donoghue.

We have seen the use of long leasing increasing in the past couple of years, and it is reflected to some extent in the figures. It was at a low level but has escalated. In advance of that scheme escalating - I know it is intended to dispense with this in the lifetime of the Government - what work indicating value for money was done? Typically in this case, a housing estate is built and the local authority will take a lease for up to 25 years, committing to a rent review every four years. It will pay between 80% and 90% of market rents depending on the level of maintenance and will then return the property at the end, with it being refurbished prior to being returned. The authority does not have an asset at the end. What value-for-money exercise was done and what period did it take in? Was it for the lifetime of the scheme? How did that feed into the policy process?