Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I will do my best. The answer to Senator Landy's question about AHB regulation is "Yes", that will be coming through shortly and in place by 2016.

There will certainly be a discount in place in the tenant purchase scheme. It is not going to be offered in the same way as it was in the past. I think it needs to be improved, to be honest. I will be straight about this; a number of Deputies have approached me on this issue from across all political areas and it is necessary. I will be putting that in place.

The figures on Irish Water the Senator gave are broadly correct. I do not have them down to the exact number but it is broadly correct.

On the homelessness forum, the units that the archbishop is talking about are in north County Dublin but I will be talking to him about his other examples on Thursday. He has said that he will make 30 available in north Dublin.

The homelessness budget of €55.5 million is broken down by region. It is divided into nine regions with a lead authority in each. I have the 2014 figures for the regions, which I will provide to anyone who wants them. The 2015 budget obviously has not yet been allocated but when it has I will send on the information.

I have to say out straight that I think there are issues with those Simon Community units. I have said this previously about the Catholic Housing Aid Society, and I am saying it of Simon now as well. These may be examples of issues that need to be sorted out on Thursday. We do not need a drop in supply or in the number of these units with nothing filling in for them. If things need to be upgraded and units need to be closed, which I respect is necessary from time to time, or if there are other issues, we need a process by which that void, for want of a better phrase, can be filled. I have a concern about the consultative process and how all of this works together.

I am trying to run through the questions in order to be as helpful as possible. I thank the Deputy for his comments on the voids in County Laois. I understand where he is coming from. It is not too far away from me and it is a successful scheme that I want to prioritise. More funding will be provided if necessary. I think it is the greatest way of turning properties around quickly.

I have spoken about rent caps on numerous occasions, and there are legal and constitutional issues as Deputy Stanley has said. That is something that can be looked at. Deputy Stanley has to appreciate the fact I have to accept the advice I get as well. One issue is that we have had studies on this. The PRTB did a study which showed that if we had rent caps in place over the past ten years, it would have increased rents. If Deputy Coppinger disagrees, she may take that up with the PRTB. It is their study.