Mr. Conor Skehan:

The agency is currently preparing advice to the sector on the mortgage arrears resolution process, MARP, local authority shared ownership schemes, the social housing leasing initiative and capital allowance leasing facilities. It has been involved with NAMA through the special purpose vehicle, the National Asset Residential Property Services Limited, NARPS. It is also engaged in the land aggregation scheme which is examining lands from that source. It is providing advice on the rent framework for the local authorities, providing current updates of housing need assessments, and has updated its housing manual, which is widely used by practitioners in this area. It also provides assistance in regard to housing assistance payments and loan underwriting services.

In terms of technical work, the agency includes a team of architects, planners and quantity surveyors who are involved in regeneration and refurbishment projects, surveys, planning, studies and related work. It has a small number of extremely well-regarded researchers in the field who are currently working on fields as diverse as Traveller accommodation, homelessness and housing for people with a disability.

They are providing research and specific reports on the rental index for the Private Residential Tenancies Board and a review of shared-ownership schemes. It is a busy agency into the middle of which I am being dropped. It is a whirlwind of activity, which is constantly being referred to by the Department and whose advice is constantly sought. It is a real privilege to have the potential to be involved in an agency like that.