Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This relates not so much to a policy issue in terms of housing but rather to a practical matter that is hugely important, namely, the way applicants are dealt with by local authorities. It is about the protocols that should be in place. One of the key issues I find, which other committee members may have come across, is that if a person is on the list for a significant period - say, five to seven years - there may be issues with the local authorities, which were in the past a very good listening post, with people who were trained and able to deal with other issues that arise with families. There need to be universal protocols in place for dealing with applicants in terms of respect for them, about not discussing their business in front of other people and so on. It is very important.

Perhaps the best way to put it is to ask the county managers or whoever whether there should be protocols in place in every local authority area for dealing with applicants in the context of respect for them as human beings, how and where they are listened to and privacy. All those issues are very important. I have people coming to me who say they have to stand at a hatch and everybody can hear what is going on. There are all sorts of human issues that have to be dealt with. Without going through them all myself, we should get the managers to come back to us with a list of protocols as to how people are dealt with. It applies to every local authority query in any event but, in particular, to housing applicants who have significant family problems and who have huge difficulties besides their actual housing need, which is compounded by these other problems.