Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Simon Communities for coming in and commend it for all the excellent work it does throughout the country. Many of us know how difficult it is for people to get housing because they contact us to say they cannot get social housing or private rented accommodation there is such a shortage of supply. I can only imagine how much more difficult it must be for somebody coming out of prison to try to get accommodation.

Do we have full up to date information on how difficult it is for prisoners to get accommodation or the likely level of recidivism when somebody comes out and does not have accommodation? Ms McSweeney mentioned recidivism and access to housing. In paragraph 5.1 of her submission she refers to the study of a two year period following release from prison which showed that less than a third who had homes to go to were reconvicted compared to 69% of those who had no home. That research dates from 1986. The figure is probably higher now in Dublin. When people are in prison although it is an oppressive regime at least they have a roof over their heads while the alternative is to be out on the streets with no place to go. Has any up to date research been done on prisoners and the opportunity they have to get housing, and recidivism after that?