Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Kitt for his remarks. We will have an opportunity to address some of those issues tomorrow. I do hope that we will be able to get further funding. I welcome support from all sides of the House in getting as much funding as we can for housing construction because there is clearly a need for it.

The transfer of NAMA units has been speeded up quite a bit. We expect that we will get the full 2,000 units in the lifetime of this Government, which is the commitment we have made. We meet with NAMA's representatives fairly regularly to address these issues. We now have a more simplified system for the transfer of NAMA units.

The Deputy referred to the private housing sector and getting private funding. Under the CAS scheme, only approximately 25% of funding comes from the State, while the voluntary sector raises extra funding. That scheme is progressing. We now have voluntary regulation of the private sector, which they tell us makes it easier for them to obtain funding in the private sector. We have some examples of where that is progressing. I am willing to examine all the various options that come forward.

We expect to deliver about 5,000 units this year, some of which will be from direct construction, some from the CAS scheme, some through NAMA and others through leasing and the rental accommodation scheme. We are using as many different systems as we can because there is clearly a need for such housing.

Along with everybody in this Chamber, I would like to increase the construction of local authority housing. I am happy that today marks the restart of a mainstream programme after the collapse of the economy. I hope that we will be able to make further announcements in the near future.

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