Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

While the committee does not deal with Deputy Ó Caoláin's question, generally, the private rented sector is an important part of housing policy. The changes we have introduced in that area have significantly reduced the private sector rented market. It is continuing to decline dramatically, even in the heart of Dublin, which is a major change. If many in that sector could access affordable or social housing, it is undoubted they would be happier. However, the State is subsidising them in accommodation, in many cases where they are happiest and from where they do not want to move. It is not one size fits all.

There are many arguments about PPPs which time does not permit me to go into. However, another argument suggests that PPP projects are coming in on cost and on or ahead of time — the Monasterevin bypass was nearly a year ahead and the Kinnegad project is going well. There are efficiencies of scale and there will also be efficiencies in regard to maintenance. While cost is a factor, if one was to wait to undertake projects in the traditional way, there would be increased delays and difficulties. We are spending increased resources in recent years —€1.4 billion on roads and €1.2 billion on rail, and we must find the most effective way of completing projects which does not only concern cost.

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