Ms Margaret Geraghty:

Regarding the provision of affordable housing by local authorities, we are at the very early stages. We have a few examples from around the country, including Dublin city, of projects that we are trying to get under way. One of the key issues is the procurement model and local authorities are looking at that in terms of a design, build, fund and direct sale. That would be the tender process. At the moment the margins are tight. The Deputy is right that with an affordable housing fund and the provision of land at a reduced cost or a nil cost, we are trying to deliver an affordable product but the type of product is important. In some places if it is an apartment development, the costs are greater and we can be challenged to get to an affordable sale price, taking account of that.

In terms of current projects the tender processes for projects in both Cork and Fingal are managing to deliver what would be considered affordable units but most of those are houses at this point in time. There is definitely pressure from an apartment development perspective where we have to meet the density guidelines.

That is the knowledge we have at this point in time-----