Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree that we need to have a humane approach. None of us wishes to see people sleeping on the street. I thank the Minister of State for clarifying and saying that the private commercial market, and not the private residential market, is used to house those who are coming to our land looking for accommodation. I take it from what the Minister of State has said that the contract that was signed for two years for this house in Pairc Mhuire is null and void because that most certainly is private residential. He clearly said in the response that was given to him by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth of Ireland, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman's officials that State land, commercial build, design and build and IPAS centres will be used but not residential. While I have not had a response yet from the Minister's Department, if that is the case, it is very clear that this contract is null and void and that no residential property will be used.