Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

When does the Minister hope to publish the over the shop incentive scheme that is in the programme for Government? The Minister is well aware of the effectiveness of the tenant in situ scheme in preventing homelessness. Will there be additional funding allocated for the scheme this year, given that many local authorities have financial difficulties? When will the Minister give local authorities their exact targets under the national planning framework? I ask him to be specific on that as they are eagerly awaited. The Minister has heard me speak before about the need for a significant uplift in the targets for affordable housing. He knows full well the cohort of people who are above the social housing limits but not in a position to secure homeownership in their own right. We need to significantly increase the affordable housing targets in the new plan. I ask him to give us some hope that will be a key feature in the new plan so we can give hope to our constituents who are in touch with us on a regular basis on affordable housing.