Mr. Aubrey McCarthy:

In response to Deputy Durkan's question as to whether we are an approved housing body, organically we have grown into providing transitional housing, not because we ever wanted to but because people such as Mr. Niall Murphy, who have exited the programme, have found it difficult to get back on their feet. Wicklow County Council has approached us many times to take on a transitional house for them. In the meantime we have applied for housing approval to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. That is in train and is pending.

We had a graduation last week and one of the guys who graduated was homeless and lived on the beach in Wicklow. He told his story at the graduation. He said he went into Wicklow County Council and told those in the offices he had nowhere to go. He said he needed treatment, that he was in addiction but was homeless and Wicklow County Council telephoned Tiglin. Wicklow County Council saw that this guy could get help in Tiglin. When he came in, we had problems because he was very moody, as he said himself, and he did not want to fill in any forms. It turns out the guy was illiterate; he could not read or write. He was in addiction. He was in chaos. He stood up last Saturday and told his story. He is now pursuing a FETAC level six course. He told us all how his smart phone has changed his life. He is now texting and sending e-mails and so on. That has happened organically. Wicklow County Council and others have seen what we do and are there to support our application for transitional housing.