Mr. Robert Burns:

We are trying to keep a flexible approach to that even if a person is at a certain point on the list. If, for example, the family size is very large and they do not have alternative options, then that becomes a serious consideration. Those situations do arise. The fact that we do not have a hard and fast rule allows us to have the flexibility. That is simply the situation. There is not actually a hard rule that says above or below a certain point on the list we do not consider. We consider what comes in front of us. There will always be a point where you just cannot consider every single one. We treat each one on a case-by-case basis, looking at the circumstances around it and if those expressions of interest come to our intention, we consider them fully.

We are looking at it from an acquisitions and allocations point of view. Our issue is not the ability to acquire but it is the circumstances around what we can potentially absorb. If this is done at scale and a significant number of houses are acquired, that can impact the private sale market, which is something for us to consider. There are also practical considerations around people who are on the housing list. Quite rightly, they may have concerns that others are coming through that route and leapfrogging them. As the Deputy will appreciate, we have a lot of things to consider. We are also trying to ensure that a bad a situation does not become worse. We are dealing with a homeless situation which can be more difficult to remedy at the moment. There are many factors to consider.