Mr. Ned Brennan:

That is the problem. It is the lack of planning. Mr. O'Brien and myself have been saying that there is a need for a national housing plan. A "mix'em and gather'em" of little bits have been pulled together and there are different programmes delivering different services. We need to start with a clear white sheet and decide where are the needs, particularly with regard to what Mr. Brook mentioned. The most marginalised people are homeless people. Their ability to get services are diminishing every day, and these are the most marginalised people in our society. If we cannot provide for homeless people, what chance do we have of providing for anyone else in need of housing? We need to start with a clean white sheet. There is a great deal of knowledge and strategic vision in the Departments and in the State agencies to allow us be able to begin to build up a housing policy, which is determined by analysing need, identifying the best places to live, identifying the resources, and putting that package together. We cannot rely on the private sector, as the Deputy rightly pointed out, because the private sector will go where there is the most money. Social housing was a cove in a storm. When it got cold and windy, the private sector came in for a breather. Now that the sun is shining again it is back out fishing in the middle of the ocean, and that is what will happen. We cannot depend on the private sector to deliver social housing.