Mr. Anthony Flynn:

I will respond first to the questions raised by Deputy Ó Broin, following which I will group and respond to the points made by other members. As clarified by the Chairman of the CCMA, we can increase our delivery targets in regard to the provision of social housing in local authorities but we need to speed up the programmes. The use of new building technologies is vital, so we need to buy-in in that regard.

In regard to the capital works management framework and single stage process, I would have no sleepless nights if what was suggested could be considered, although I am not sure it will be. I believe there is some capacity in the context of a three-stage or a two-stage process - by this I mean, an approval stage and a go-to-tender stage, which would be a two-stage process. Some work in the context of the capital works management framework is important.

Our housing land initiatives are currently out to tender, and they will provide an affordable element. We have been working on an affordable rental model, a cost rental model and a starter homes model. In the context of economic appraisals, we have to put some meat on the bones in relation to that process but I am confident there will be an affordable model in Dublin City Council's housing land initiatives. On whether the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, will provide some form of sale or cost rental dividend, I believe it will. In terms of Poolbeg, it will certainly provide a dividend of in excess of the 10% requirement from the developer in regard to Part V. We believe there will be capacity in that scheme in terms of LIHAF.

On staff resources, at this point in time Dublin City Council is appropriately staffed to deliver the housing programme in terms of administrative and professional supports. On the point made by Deputy Ellis in regard to compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, they are a last resort in the context of taking back properties. We would use all other mechanisms first to try to get vacant properties back into residential use. Dublin City Council recently completed 11 CPOs and we have identified 144 other derelict homes in respect of which we are going through a process or a CPO with landlords to bring them into stock. On vacant shops and other vacant properties, I agree that there is some scope to examine change-of-use of those properties in the context of the development plan.

On the financial contribution scheme, I am in favour of a down-sizing scheme or under-occupancy scheme. We recently had a scheme of this nature in Ballyfermot whereby an approved housing body delivered 70 homes. The scheme was open to tenants who had large accommodation which they no longer required and 17 tenants surrendered their homes and moved to accommodation for older persons. We are putting in place similar plans for the Crumlin-Drimnagh area and the north-west area.