Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

I thank everyone here. I have a number of questions and my first one is for Professor Norris. It relates to the issue of financing, and perhaps Mr. Turnbull can come in as well. It is about potentially setting up a French-style Livret A scheme that would channel funding in private savings accounts into an affordable social financing method, like the Social Democrats has set out in its homes for Ireland proposal. This could offer potential to deliver thousands of additional units each year and address what Professor Norris referred to as the lack of certainty in funding streams. There is potential, given there is over €160 billion in private bank accounts in Ireland, much of which is not earning interest. I would like to hear comment on that.

My other question is for the Irish Council for Social Housing. We have heard that some AHBs have faced delays in approval of funding, particularly as it relates to CREL, the affordable housing area. What is the council's experience with the Department of housing? What level of support does it feel is generally there for affordable housing bodies and for the continued central role that I believe affordable, not-for-profit, housing bodies and associations should be playing in the delivery of housing? What more can be done to support its role in that?

Finally, what does Dr. Turnbull think are the key solutions Ireland should be adopting from the international experience?