Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, traditionally large developers would have had access to finance; therefore, I would not expect them to approach HBFI for it. Home Building Finance Ireland is a new entity that will provide finance for small builders and developers throughout the country at competitive commercial rates of interest to enable them to build more homes at affordable prices. We have a different view on NAMA and the expertise available therein. There is a body expertise available within it that has been working in the State's interests for the past few years. As NAMA winds down and comes to the end of its life cycle, there is potential for this State resource to be put to very important use - having more homes built more quickly and at more affordable prices.

On the Deputy's comment that the State is doing nothing to provide affordable housing, apart from the affordability scheme which I will announce, we have put in place a number of measures, including the €200 million provided for the LIHAF to open up new sites more quickly, which will result in the provision of housing at more affordable prices. A second round of LIHAF funding was announced in budget 2018.

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