Tackling homelessness and dealing with the housing crisis is the stated priority of the Government and the House. A raft of legislation has been promised to deal with these issues, but where is it? The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government promised to ensure the Bill to deal with short-term lettings would be enacted before Christmas. We have yet to see the publication of the Bill on the national regeneration and development agency. Where is the legislation promised to deal with the issue that is our social imperative?

I thank the Deputy for the questions. On homelessness and the imperative to deliver more social housing homes, I received agreement from the Cabinet earlier for supplementary spending on social housing this year additional to what was announced in next year's budget. That funding will increase the stock of social housing homes this year, which is welcome to help families and individuals.

The Government cannot spend the capital this year.

We can through acquisitions. On the Bills the Deputy asked about-----

How much money is it?

On the Bills the Deputy asked about, the Land Development Agency is up and running-----

How much funding was it? Will it buy houses between now and the end of the year?

A Cheann Comhairle-----

Let the Minister answer.

The Minister made an announcement.

If we can let him answer.

He has not announced much.

Please let the Minister answer.

The Land Development Agency is up and running. The heads of the Bill to establish it on a statutory funding in order to capitalise it with Ireland Strategic Investment Fund funding will be published in the next week or two. The intention has always been to get the Bill through Second and Committee Stages next year with the draft heads published this year, which will happen.

On the regulation of short-term lettings, draft regulations have been prepared for the joint committee. The approach will involve a change in regulations and a one-line amendment to primary legislation. Those new laws will come into effect on 1 June 2019, which means we have time to give effect to them. The important thing is that people know changes are coming in seven or eight months to allow them to get ready for them to come into effect. My hope is that the joint committee can look at the draft regulations as soon as possible. They are drafted and there will be a standing period for them to come into effect. The last matter is the rent Bill which I hope to bring to the Cabinet next Tuesday.