Mr. David Carroll:

Deputy O'Sullivan asked about the issue of hotels. Obviously, we are all aware of the impact these arrangements have on individual families. We provide an inreach service into one of the hotels in Ballymun. Focus Ireland and other organisations do likewise. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is providing funding for a case-managed approach for those families. Our experience is that for the majority of people it is a supply issue. Some of those involved have complex and vulnerable needs but most of them have housing needs. In this interim situation, rapid-build housing is key to enable us to create enough temporary accommodation to provide an alternative to hotels. However, while people are in the hotel situation, the type of support they get is critical to ensure the children go to school in their locality, that they are feeding in to community interventions and that children are receiving proper nutritious meals rather than takeaway meals. Such interventions for this existing cohort are critical as part of a co-ordinated strategic approach being taken by the DRHE at the moment in partnership with other community interventions.