Ms Helen Faughnan:

As I indicated, I will raise the issue with my colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. If rent supplement was involved and no other accommodation was available, we would generally be pragmatic and try to meet the need.

When supply is tight, putting a family into three-bed accommodation when it needs only a one-bed or a two-bed, precludes a three-bed family from sourcing that accommodation. It is a case of trying to balance all the needs which is not easy in the circumstances.