Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On that point - it is important that we are all very clear - Dr. McManus is right about the AHB homes that were funded through the old capital loan and subsidy scheme, CLSS, and are currently funded through the capital assistance scheme, CAS. It must be said, though, that the capital advanced loan facility, CALF, and the availability agreement is the most advantageous of all. It is not just in regard to the general needs of AHBs being funded through CALF getting more money. They are getting more money. It is also important to point out that the smaller AHBs, which are still funded through CAS, do not get that benefit either. While I appreciate the grants may look generous, if we go and talk to the local government sector, we would find they do not come anywhere close to meeting the cost of response maintenance, let alone cyclical maintenance.

There is an important point here, though. Of all the different funding models, the CALF availability agreement is the most efficient. The Housing Commission has strongly recommended that in general we need to be moving towards that model for all the housing being delivered, regardless of whether it is local authorities or the AHBs delivering it. I know that local authorities do look enviously, as do CAS-funded AHBs, at the availability agreement funding. I know it is not perfect and it is not like the organisations are awash with money, but there are real material differences.