Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The standard is very high. There was great excitement about rapid build housing, but there has been no delivery. It is an easy knock to say they have not been delivered, but it is never too late to pull back on something. My view is that the rapid build programme in Dún Laoghaire should not go ahead as part of a major town centre zoning. I would like someone to examine this and to find an alternative mix. I do not have any ideological hang-up; this is about delivering homes for people who need them. Let us keep it simple. That is what the message is. The goal is to provide 47,000 homes. The officials must deliver on the little yellow and red book.

Action 1.15 reads: "We will improve mental health and primary care services for homeless persons". We know that is an integral factor for many homeless people who have a range of complexities and issues with which to deal. We all have a range of complexities, but homeless people do not necessarily have the supports they need. We must address the underlying issues affecting homelessness. We must deal with addiction and mental health issues and other complexities in an holistic way. That is an area on which we should keep a focus. We do not need to discuss it today, but it is a very important issue and we want to have a transitional arrangement. I would like to think we would have no or very few homeless hostels in Dublin. We want to follow up on this action. I am aware of two such places. One individual is in a homeless hostel for 16 years, which is a failure of the system. I am happy to share information with the committee on a project for 26 people. When they came into the services, they were asked when they had been put on the housing list and why they were still in the accommodation in which they were living. I was appalled by the figures. People on the books of local authorities were in homeless accommodation for ten years. The intention was that it would be a transitional arrangement and that people would be moved to supported accommodation which would be appropriate to their needs. It is about providing accommodation appropriate to people's needs, but that is not happening. As part of the objective set out in action 1.15, it is important that we conduct an audit of all the homeless accommodation operated by local authorities or the agencies or sub-agencies funded by the Department. I do not think anyone should be living in emergency or homeless accommodation for a long period. Such accommodation is transitional and fills a need. It has a role, but it is not good enough to say it satisfies people's housing needs.

I apologise as I have to attend another meeting, but real progress has been made. There is no point in introducing measures not included in the plan. The objectives have been set out in the plan and the Department is clearly delivering. That must be acknowledged and I hope it will continue. I was suspicious about many aspects of the plan, but I am beginning to see the light. Everyone needs time. While I might have issues about the process, especially in the area of fast-track planning, the plan is what is on the table and we must work with it. I say, "Well done," to all concerned.