Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is the issue. As I said, it is my first meeting as a member of this committee and I am still trying to find my feet as to the types of questions we can ask. It was my understanding that the Committee of Public Accounts looks at public money, how it is spent, whether we are getting value for money, controls, processes and accountability and does not really deal with policy issues. We clearly have a breakdown in policy here, however, which is impacting the controls that are being put in place.

As a member of this committee and a Member of the Oireachtas, I am not comfortable with the fact that public money, amounting to €153 million, was paid to landlords in 2017 and we do not know how many of those landlords are providing substandard, dangerous accommodation to some of our most vulnerable citizens. I have not heard anything yet from the Department about how we are going to resolve that. Mr. McCarthy has said that the Department is looking at the two systems and trying to bring them together into one system but how long is that going to take? When can we expect such a system to be put in place? Even when it is put in place, can we be quite confident that any public money paid to private landlords is paid on the basis that they are providing a secure and safe environment in which people can live?