Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are all aware of the work the Peter McVerry Trust does all over the country, on which I compliment it.

I note from the spreadsheet submitted that 60% of the people with whom the trust works need support in dealing with mental health issues, while 81% need support in addressing the issue of drug use.

I have a few direct questions for the representatives. First, how is the trust funded? Like all organisations, I am sure it could make use of much more money.

Second, it was stated rent supplement should be increased to a figure of 28%. Do the representatives believe that would have a knock-on effect in driving up rents?

My third question relates to the Housing First model. I come from the Waterford constituency which has an urban-rural mix. It was stated 21 counties had fewer than 100 homeless persons. Will one of the representatives elaborate on that model as using it would be a good idea to intervene at the level required to prevent the problem from becoming worse?