John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Perfect. That would be exceptionally useful. If anything were to come out of today's session, if that were to come out of it it would be a really welcome step.

Leasing was one my lines of questioning to all the local authorities, not only in the context of the repair-and-leasing scheme but also in the context of general leasing. I believe it was a mistake to withdraw leasing as a method of delivery. I am on record as having said that. I disagree with the decision. Nobody can justifiably tell me that it is not better to have a family in a long-term, secure rental property for 25 years than it is to have them in a hotel room. All the bodies that came before us concurred with that view. We have opened up an element of leasing - an additional 1,000 units, I think - through the leasing process. Is any consideration being given to opening that up further? Many of the local authorities had developed a stream of units for delivery through the leasing process. Given the fact that we have ramped up direct build, there is now a strong case to be made, I believe, for supplementing that with a larger quantum of leasing units, not taking out the direct builds, the Part V housing or the acquisitions, which are still delivery methods. We will continue to ramp up those methods, but is consideration being given to expand that envelope of leasing properties further?