Dr. Donal McManus:

In terms of the funding now, it is about two-thirds social housing to one-third cost-rental housing. We have moved fairly quickly from zero to one third in four years. That is quite a fast turnaround for a different type of scheme. I think different AHBs have different appetites in terms of what they want to do and what skills they have. Certain different skills are required with affordable housing than with social housing. At the moment, the ratio is probably heading towards 25% to 33% for affordable housing. For affordable ownership housing, we have not done a huge amount. One AHB provides some affordable ownership housing in certain areas. One or two other AHBs are considering looking at affordable housing for sale, which has a slightly different product and risk profile.

We have moved quickly to get up towards one third of delivery. The numbers, particularly last year, saw us move from zero to one third. This is where it has stabilised now. I think each AHB will look at its financial situation, its risk profile and the debt being taken on. It is a fundamentally different product, CALF and P and A financing, than it is with cost-rental in terms of the State involvement and so forth. If we get clearer direction in the new strategic plan for the sector on what the pathways will be for finance, more AHBs may get involved. Five AHBs are involved in cost rental now in urban areas. Another four or five are considering it for family housing, for general lease, and for older people as well. There is probably a niche area there for housing for older people. That is where we are at now. If more AHBs were in the market, there would probably also be more delivery. I would say it would be somewhere between 30% and 40%. Now, though, people are just selling where they are at, which is about one third of delivery for cost-rental housing.