Ms Louise Loughlin:

I can take that question. The Cathaoirleach set out very well and clearly how the issue can present itself. One of the commitments in Housing for All is for the RTB to develop a facilitation model. We ran a small pilot around this time last year. We described it as early intervention. Some of the detail relating to that project can be seen in our annual report. There were very small numbers because we ran a short pilot, but we were happy with its outcome. From March of this year, we stood that up as part of our dispute resolution service software. The plan is to build that out over time and we are growing it on an incremental basis. That involves some of the issues the Cathaoirleach set out, including taking a case when it is at the assessment stage. This occurs when an application has been received and after it has been ascertained that the case is eligible for RTB services and that it falls within our jurisdiction. If it is a landlord application, it is registered, etc. Then, our own highly experienced staff will contact the parties, pick up the phone to them and start talking to them about the case. They will try to ascertain what the issues are and whether the case lends itself to resolution-----