Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister said last night, many of the HAP payments represent transfers from the RAS.

We could not elaborate on the percentages last night but all of them could be transfers from existing tenants under RAS schemes. Ultimately, the Minister's ambition will be measured by the record of success, when the year concludes, on the deliverability of what is proposed. I do not agree that it is the biggest house building programme in the history of the State. I will check the facts but I am sure I am on the right side of those facts. Local authorities, in conjunction and in co-operation with the Minister's Department, should be charged with the responsibility of addressing this issue. They should be providing and building new units. This is the only way to meet the crisis. Fr. McVerry stated this recently and he is not the only expert who has stated this consistently. The only way to address the supply issue, because of the demand, is to increase the supply. It will not suffice to increase the supply of leased units. There is a crisis in that sector also. Rents would not be at their current levels if this was not the case. The Minister is looking at the existing market to fulfil a need which needs to be resolved from the outside and by that I mean constructing units. Unfortunately, the record will show that there is only provision for 1,400 units and we do not know how many of them will be built.

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