Mr. Patrick Sharkey:

I believe the publication of the guidelines has not fundamentally changed anything from our group's perspective. The first point is effectively the cash, or the working capital that we will need to kick-start works in advance of receiving the grant draw-downs. That is the first point. Second, there is the longer-term shortfall for larger properties, which still exists. The thing to remember, certainly with regard to stand-alone houses, is that the majority of us built our homes as effectively self-builds. As a self-build, we engaged with everything from the architect, the groundworks, the block work and the roofing. We engaged various contractors to deliver the project. When each of those tradespeople finishes their work, he or she will require payment. Let us contrast that with a situation where, for example, there is a turnkey contract, perhaps with a contractor who delivers a turnkey finish. In such scenarios, a contractor may have working capital facilities, as well as the scale and capacity to take on multiple houses. However, they are few and far between in the county. We believe that for the scheme to work, people need the interim zero-cost funding, which will effectively be guaranteed repayment through the ultimate drawdowns from the grant. Thereafter, perhaps with the larger unit types, there is a longer-term shortfall. We need banks to look at that sympathetically and realistically.