Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses for their presentations and for engaging with the committee. I also thank them and their teams for everything they do daily to help us in the housing emergency. I have questions and comments which I have framed around a few themes, including stock and the funding propositions the witnesses have spoken about. I also have a few general process questions which may or may not be relevant to this discussion. I am taking the opportunity to learn about it.

From a stock perspective, I would like to get a handle on what percentage of the organisations' stock is accessible and whether there are any issues or trends with newly built accessible housing. In my area, sometimes when people move in or are due to move into accessible stock, it does not go smoothly and there are issues with doorframes and things like that. Are there any identifiable trends in that regard?

We have spoken a lot about CALF and the scheme revision. I am interested in understanding if CALF units are currently working. Are people in the witness organisations' CALF units able to meet the rent? Are they able to make their payments? Do the witness organisations think, with rent allowance qualification not happening any more, the housing assistance payment, HAP, needs to be looked at in that model?

What vacant stock is currently on the books? Are Garda checks creating any delays in filling those vacant units? Tuath indicated that the move to affordable housing might not work for the AHB model. I would like to understand a little better why that might be the case. From a funding perspective, I get what Mr. Hannigan is saying. Part of it is that you cannot make surpluses to reinvest Government grants or cover capital, but there is maintenance stock and there are big issues with older houses. That matter needs to be resolved. The points about CREL and CALF have been heard loud and clear. It is interesting to think that if we had one fund it would simplify matters quite quickly.

On the UK evaluation process, I would like to get the views of the other AHBs as to whether a similar system here could be a winner. If there is unanimity on that, I would be happy to put it to the Minister and lobby in favour of it.

Is the current model of differential rents for the various local authorities working? Would a standardised differential rate of rent work better? In the context of more vulnerable households, is six months a long enough period for support to live independently, SLI, workers to be assigned?