Mr. John McCarthy:

There is no one-size-fits-all model at this stage. What we have said in the rental strategy and what we have done in engagement with Dublin City Council is to use those projects, in effect, as testers for the development of a model, and look at the issues that throws up which then becomes a hugely informative piece for the work that needs to be done in the second half of the year in terms of the approach to cost rental more generally.

On the vacant strategy, all I can say is what the Minister stated last week, that he just wants to take a little bit of time to look at it. We will complete it as quickly as we possibly can. I cannot get into what it might or might not contain at this stage but we will certainly be working to try to wrap it up as quickly as we possibly can.

Senator Murnane O'Connor said I had talked about local authorities and had not made any reference to AHBs. I did, although perhaps in my muttering style, make reference to AHBs which are hugely important. They deliver very significantly for us and are important players as part of the implementation of Rebuilding Ireland.

That comes back to Deputy Ó Broin and the issue of reclassification. We had some discussion on this previously. That, obviously, is a significant issue and we are working closely with the CSO and with the AHB sector in regard to it. The last update we had from the CSO was that it was probably taking a little more time than it might have envisaged. Whether the CSO will come to a conclusion on it before the end of the summer or whether it will stretch to the autumn is not entirely clear at this stage. It then it moves on to EUROSTAT which will ultimately make the decision. It is certainly something for at least the second half of the year.

We are certainly alive to the potential implications that might flow from this and honestly engaging with the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance on it in order that we will be as prepared as we can be in terms of what it might yield.

The Deputy also referred to the regulation of the approved housing body sector. Publication in the current session of a Bill dealing with the issue has been committed to and we are practically there. I cannot be sure, however, whether we will actually have it published before the Dáil rises for the summer or whether it will be published the following the week, but at this stage, it looks as if we will have it published before the end of July and be in a position to take it through both Houses in the autumn.

Some of the matters raised by the Deputy are Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 issues. I will leave it to the Minister to respond on them in line with the agreement. I gather from people moving that he must be on his way.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan mentioned the timeline for the housing strategy. As I said to Deputy Eoin Ó Broin, it will be done as soon as possible. The Minister wants to take a little time to look at it.

In effect, the new planning regulations will be exempted development regulations which in due course will be brought before this committee for consideration. We will try to finalise them over the summer in order that, come September, when the Houses are back, they will be in a position to deal with them quickly.

Deputy Barry Cowen's question was about the number of HAP tenancies and people who had transferred across into-----