Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because some of my questions have already been raised and answered and I have no wish to repeat them. There are two points. Ms O'Connor referred to the fact that 11% of people in emergency accommodation had gone into private accommodation. What is happening there is a problem. Having listened to Ms O'Connor, it is clearly very complex. I note Mr. O'Connell said we need to simplify things. I will not ask Mr. O'Connell to go through it now but I would appreciate if he came back on his own in a week or so with some suggestions on how we can simplify the housing assistance payment or any other system we use. Sometimes we create processes and box-ticking exercises but we do not actually get things done. I take on board what he has said and I agree wholeheartedly that we need to get the emergency sorted out.

Mr. O'Connell suggested that we need to increase the number of rapid-build options. I believe such options should be for permanent housing as opposed to temporary housing, and we need to increase the number of acquisitions as well. There may be a problem with this if the acquisitions are not be available when we need them. I agree with the point made in that regard.

Deputy Ó Broin referred to the closing of some of the emergency situations.

We would perhaps need a rapid increase in the number of bed units or whatever for the homeless. It is complex and I compliment the witnesses on their work but we need to simplify the process and get the avenues opened up more quickly. I would appreciate if they could give us some suggestions on that, collectively or individually.