Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. I will be quick. On resources for authorities, I think on the housing side we have over 300 new posts in social housing and for quantity surveyors, engineers and so on, and about 69 additional posts on affordable housing. As the affordable schemes are rolled out, especially through the local authorities, we have said we will provide further posts in that space. We have 42 or 43 affordable housing schemes approved through the local authorities using the affordable housing fund to deliver between 2,800 and 2,900 units. The pipeline is therefore very good. The Senator mentioned some of these projects as they will fall into that category under the affordable housing fund.

On vacancy, there have been over 600 applications so far for the Croí Cónaithe vacancy grant and the number is increasing all the time. We have said that where local authorities have a need for additional staff, they should make a submission to us and we will be open to any such submission. We have to base that on delivery, however. There is a real opportunity there. The Senator should not forget the town centre first teams are also in place in our local authorities and we expect them to feed in. The vacancy unit, which has been set up in the Department for the first time, has already engaged a number a times with the vacant homes officers across the country. There is only one post left to be filled and an offer is out on that. I will not name the local authority but the post is being filled.

On Dublin city in particular, I expect we will be able to sign agreements next month on the Croí Cónaithe apartment activation fund. Those are apartments for purchase. While we have a good pipeline of social housing, especially in Dublin city, we need more affordable housing and sooner. That element of Croí Cónaithe will interact with the help-to-buy grant and the first home scheme. Twelve schemes came through that staged process and we will be able to move the first four early next year.

I want to leave the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, some time to respond on Moore Street.