Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I just have an observation and a final question. I am sure it is something the witnesses are aware of and are coming up against. In my experience, eligibility for social housing is referenced for nearly all of the people that I am aware of who are in these situations. That means nearly nothing for the first few years. The social housing situation being such as it is and time being such a consideration, it is my experience that it is of very little assistance to people in the short run, even if they do qualify for it.

Some 1,300 family homes have been lost through sale, voluntary surrender or repossession in the first half of this year. If none of the measures outlined in the Bill is implemented, are we looking at an escalation over the next 12 months? How many homes can we expect to be lost through repossession, sale or voluntary surrender? Is it possible to anticipate it?