Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about the co-operation between the local authorities and the voluntary housing sector. I know that the voluntary housing sector gets its list from the housing list but if someone needs a transfer, on overcrowding or medical grounds, there is no inter-transferability, for want of a better word. I do not know whether that is a national issue or whether each local authority decides.

In my constituency, if, for example, Respond! has a bungalow that would be suitable for somebody in a local authority house, there does not seem to be any room for a transfer. I agree with some of Deputy Coppinger’s points about it being more difficult to deal with some of the housing agencies than with the local authority. I know of a situation where people are expected to pay for central heating to be put into their homes. That would be very different in local authority homes. I know Mr. O’Brien cannot comment on individual cases but it is worth bearing in mind that a better approach to dealing with tenants and their public representatives is needed. While there seems to be good co-operation at the start when the housing body takes names from the housing list, it would make sense to have more inter-transferability in some situations.