Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am in the very same position in terms of the mortgage to rent scheme. I have been talking to many people recently and do not see much of a difference. Is there an update? I do not think much of a benefit has accrued from the scheme. Perhaps I am wrong, but that is the impression I get from people with whom I deal on a daily basis.

A total of €153 million has been allocated for the HAP scheme in 2017 and there will be a roll-out of €70 million for vacant properties. In my home town of Carlow there is no emergency accommodation available. While we should not have to use them, I accept that hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation are fine for a short period as an emergency measure and that we must put people somewhere. Buildings are coming onto the market that are quite cheap, yet there does not seem to be funding available for local authorities to buy them. For example, a premises could be purchased as a women's refuge. In every county in the country there should be a long-term women's refuge facility. It is sad that we need to have them, but we do. No investment is provided for them. There is no help for people who find themselves in such situations. There is a home for men in Carlow but no women's refuge. We try to get women into accommodation in Kilkenny and Waterford where the facilities are full and then they become homeless. There are factors which add to homelessness that could be addressed in the long term instead of putting money into hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation on a short-term basis. There does not seem to be any intention of buying such premises. I could name two or three which are for sale that I know would be ideal and the prices of which are reasonable. Is funding available for such a purpose? I refer to people who are among the most vulnerable in society. The figures for homelessness have gone up again and will increase even more. People on local authority housing lists qualify for the HAP scheme, but they cannot find accommodation. They are caught in that they are included in the scheme but cannot find a place. In effect, they are homeless. What is the long-term picture for them?