Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have just been notified of a division in the Seanad and, therefore, I apologise and I mean no disrespect when I leave. I appreciate the attendance of the witnesses and all the work done by their organisations, which is invaluable. They have been a beacon. One of them mentioned that housing is social infrastructure. It is the most important social infrastructure and the work that all the organisations do cannot be overstated. We could talk about it all day, and there is so much to cover from the financing to the regulation, organisation and construction. We want to be supportive and so we want to engage on all of the topics. However, I will start with the delivery and construction of housing. All the contributors touched on it to differing degrees. There is a debate ongoing between direct build and turnkey. There are arguments as to which delivers the best value. For me the one that delivers the best value is the one that delivers the largest number of good quality homes that are affordable and secure to people. It is something that this committee needs to tease out and understand. Mr. O'Connor said that 82% of Respond's homes are direct build. Clúid indicated from its numbers for the next three years that approximately two-thirds of the homes to be delivered will be turnkey. I will start with Respond and Clúid and then move to Tuath and Circle on the issue of what makes them decide to do direct build versus turnkey and what the benefits are.