I have to say that the Minister's response is deeply disappointing. First, he has had this report since December. I do not believe for a second that the delay in taking action, whether to extend the uplift in bands to more counties or to extend the uplift more generally, has to do with the need for more research. I am firmly of the view that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is absolutely resisting the Minister's desire to raise these income thresholds. The consequence is as follows. There are familie…

I have not read the full report, but I have read the recommendations.

Here are the facts. Large numbers of people are losing or being denied access to social housing supports. We know this because Deputies from all parties, including the Minister's, have been saying it on the floor of the House for five years. One of the big concerns now is that as a result of the income tax and social welfare changes that were announced yesterday, there may be another group of people who are pushed marginally above the limit. I would be interested to know whether any analysis was done by the Ministe…

This is a terrible scheme. Those people who are welcoming it are going to be sorely disappointed because it is so badly designed.

First, Deputy Naughten is right. It is only going to be about 600-----

I am. There will be 600 units per year under this scheme, if it works.

I am, and I would have got to the question if I had not been interrupted.

I appreciate that. I might give the Deputy a more accurate answer than the Minister would.

The scheme is badly designed. The targets are too low and it only applies to a small number of towns. Like the repair and lease and buy and renew schemes, it will come back not having delivered its targets. My question is this: why only 600 units a year? What guarantee is there that people will be able to buy and renovate vacant and derelict properties on €20,000 or €30,000 of a grant?

Yes, and we would divert the money to local authorities to renovate and sell in larger numbers.

We have a better proposal.

No, just to buy them.

It would be done on scale. There would be 4,000 a year, not 600.

That is the ambition that is required.

There are tens of thousands of vacancies and the Minister is offering 600 units.

I have a big interest in this - in getting it right.

You cannot spend the capital funding you allocated last year or the year before.

Two years of a €250 million capital underspend.

They also heckled me, with the greatest of respect.

Nobody has access to any funding yet. How is it working at all?