Mr. Conor Skehan:

The agency is an amalgam of a number of former agencies which provided advice, practical and policy, to Government. It was established in 2010, mainly to work with and support local authorities, housing bodies and the Department in the delivery of housing and housing services, and to do so principally through facilitating them with their housing functions, advising on policy and policy implementation. The agency also carries out research on housing policy and does so with scarce resources. It includes a number of technical experts who provide technical and regeneration services and also underwrite loans for house purchases. The agency currently comprises 33 staff representative of the core of expertise inherited from the previous agencies. It recently moved to a new premises.

As I said earlier, I was pleased to learn from my initial contact with the agency that it has in place good, well-thought out governance, a clearly articulated set of values and a strategic plan. Essentially, it is a fantastic vehicle with the engine running and the door open. On a more detailed level, I have examined current levels of activity at the agency and can go into that in more detail at this point, if the Deputy wishes.