Dr. Mark Cassidy:

If the two vulnerabilities at present are higher building costs, such as the cost of materials, and the availability of labour, then those parts of the plan that are most sensitive to those issues will be affected. Housing is particularly important for this country. There is a clear housing deficit that is, leaving aside current developments, the most important social and economic challenge. It is an absolute requirement to significantly increase the number of houses we supply. That becomes more difficult because of the very significant increase in the cost of building a house that will materialise due to what we are seeing in global markets.