Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

The proposal is to achieve value for money for the State. The capital budget has been reducing considerably in recent years and is quite low at this stage. We are obtaining good value for the State in that we are accommodating a sizeable number of people under leasing arrangements. Approximately 20,000 households are accommodated under leasing and RAS arrangements. NAMA properties will be under the scheme.

We must operate according to the law. NAMA has been given a legal role and, although we may wish local authorities could acquire properties for nothing from NAMA, the reality is that this cannot be done. The properties in NAMA are there because the owners concerned cannot pay their debts. This is a way of using the properties available under NAMA to house families who need housing in a way that represents value for money and which will work for those concerned.

The Deputy stated approximately 2,000 units have been made available. We must assess whether they are suitable and in appropriate areas. There are a number of elements that must be determined but what will happen in effect is that approximately 2,000 units will be made available for social housing in various parts of the country. They will provide homes for people. While we might wish to obtain the properties for nothing, this simply cannot happen; it is not a realistic proposal. They must be acquired at market values and in a way that works under the regular leasing systems already in place.

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