Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I am a little uncertain why she feels she is not getting answers because there has been much consistent engagement between the Department and the committee and the two have worked together constructively.

There is still a lot to do, but we should not dismiss the improvements that have been made nor the things that are happening. We should not dismiss the fact there has been a 40% increase in planning permissions since this time last year and a similar increase in construction commencement notices. As I said last night, there has been a 33% increase in connections to the ESB grid in Dublin. Things are happening but more needs to happen, and that is why we have the rolling analysis of Rebuilding Ireland to see where we can tweak and improve things as needed.

HAP is working, in spite of some people's criticisms of it. It has supported 17,000 or 18,000 people this year. Approximately 411 people have moved out of Dublin under HAP, but the purpose is not to move people from high-demand areas to other high-demand areas. In the programme for Government negotiations, Deputy Harty added a section on a rural regeneration programme, and HAP will play a part in that. At the housing summit it was agreed to pursue that. I have spoken to the Deputy about him being involved in that and how it can be done.

Homelessness is not a funding issue. There are homeless people with very complex needs and we try to put in place every support we can. Sometimes it is not enough but we have to keep trying. The purpose of the new interagency group is to try to co-ordinate our services better to ensure we are spending money in the best way and that the voluntary groups working on the front line with local authorities have sufficient funding. An additional 200 beds will be provided at the end of the year-----