James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

That is exactly what the Department of Finance did, working with the Department of housing. It looked at how the LDA is financed and how it can be financed into the future and examining the remit of the LDA. We have agreed to expand its role.

The LDA will be absolutely critical. It will very soon be the largest housing delivery body in this country. We are fully committed to expanding its role and using financing to ensure that happens. In its gearing up it was very reliant on what are often referred to as turnkeys but we have to be aware that very much refers to off-plan properties that otherwise would not have been built. It was not a case of going in and buying properties that had been built where keys were ready to be handed over. The LDA is now moving more towards direct delivery and that is really important. We want to get to a situation where all delivery, whether it is affordable housing bodies, the LDA or local authorities, is being done in a plan-led manner. In the circumstances of the last few years there has been an emphasis on that partnership model but we very much want to get to a situation where all this is clearly plan-led by all bodies. That will maximise the delivery of homes so that the private market is there and available for people in the private sector.

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