Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the AHBs. We have read the submissions and I thank the organisations for those. I am very much a supporter of the AHBs. I know some local authorities have some serious concerns about the AHBs but when you start asking why that is the case, you suddenly realise that many of their arguments do not stand up. As someone who has been involved with local government for many years and who is familiar with the work of the AHBs and with the outputs of local authorities, my general comment is that AHBs deliver homes.

We have to get away from ideology. I do not care who is delivering the homes once we are delivering homes. That is important. Those homes they must be proper, sustainable and represent value for money. There is also a role for the local authorities. It it not exclusive to any one group. There is a huge role for both. From my experience of AHBs, the record is that they manage their new homes well. They maintain them well and operate a good strong tenancy support system. They are good at picking up the rent and at maintaining their buildings. There are many positives. What I might have thought about the AHBs a few years ago, has gone full circle. AHBs set the standards. Local authorities are closely associated with the electoral system and representation. They feel that somehow holds them back sometimes for a range of reasons I do not have the time to go into. I am sure the witnesses know the story. That is important.

In the first quick round, will each of the witnesses tell the committee the number of homes they have in their property portfolios? That is for the four organisations.

There is also something else I want to take up with Tuath, namely, the issue of ethical pension fund investment. This is important. I have read a little about it in the UK. I have certainly read a little about it in Denmark. I do not know whether any financial modelling has been done in respect of this matter. Will Mr. O'Connor confirm whether such modelling has been carried out? I ask that he not spend any time on the matter today but that he furnish the relevant information to the committee. I would like to hear more the matter and I am sure the committee would too.

The other issue I will touch on is a common theme in all the presentations, namely, incentives such as the reduction of VAT, planning levy waivers and additional funding for the multiplier of green modular construction. They are all impressive and interesting. I take it the witnesses have presented these proposals to the Government. Will they share with the committee what the response was? Are they pushing an open door? Is there any support for them? As a committee, we would benefit from hearing about it and what the Government's response was.

Mr. Hannigan referred to the key areas the witnesses want to address and spoke about "the certainty and security of tenancies". That is one of the biggest issues. When people are asked, including local authorities and AHBs, the issue is whether people will have certainty. Many people say they do not want HAP because they will have no certainty or tenancy and they will be pushed on. If I am in a local authority house, I can leverage politically in my community against anything happening to me. That is a challenge and a reality.

I will leave the witnesses with those thoughts and I ask that they respond to them.