Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister and his officials for being here. First, I would like to focus on underspends. There was an €1.3 million underspend in housing for older people and those with disabilities. How did this happen when we are dealing with some of the most vulnerable people when it comes to housing provision?

Second, the Minister announced a war on dereliction. These Estimates provide no additional funding for tackling dereliction. Instead, there is €50 million from the urban renewal and regeneration fund that was not spent. Can the Minister account for this underspend?

The third question in this series is about how 13% of the budget for this year for cost rental delivery was not met. This was because AHBs do not believe that the current cost rental construction model is feasible or appropriate. What is being done to increase cost rental delivery? The Minister might take those three questions.