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

We are doing a piece of work on the issue of overcrowding. It is due to come in the autum with the second piece of rent legislation. The first piece of legislation provided for those measures that we think we can implement more quickly because they are less complicated from a legislative point of view. We hope it will be easier to get agreement across the House in order that we can expedite that legislation and get it through as quickly as possible.

When I saw that 21% were under the age of 24 years, I found it very worrying. When we include the numbers for those under 34 years of age, the figure jumps to about 60% or maybe a little over, which is also worrying. Also worrying is the figure for lone parents who are massively over-represented in emergency accommodation compared to the general population. Having met some of the families and lone parents living in emergency accommodation, a huge amount of care and support is provided for them, but it must be very difficult for them in those circumstances. That is why it is always superior to see them in a hub and also to get them into their own homes.

On family breakdown, we have the numbers for the different types but no more than that. It will require a much more detailed piece of survey work in interacting with an individual to get behind the reasons there was a falling out with a parent, for example.

The Chairman is right to single out Housing First as a measure that is succeeding well. I do not like to name individuals, but I do think Mr. Bob Jordan, the national director whom I appointed earlier this year, is doing a fantastic job. On the two refusals mentioned by the Chairman, I do not know the reasons. I do not collect that information in the Department. I was not aware that there had been two for the 12 houses under that scheme or that they were by persons living in emergency accommodation.

The Chairman is right to use the word "misconception" in respect of the HAP scheme. The report mentions people being unsure and afraid about the concept behind the scheme. The evidence tells us that it does work in the vast majority of cases and also that we need to make some changes to it to make it work for others who are unsure of the concept or have refused to participate in it while living in emergency accommodation. We can do that work. The Chairman and Deputy Fergus O'Dowd are dead right. If we just abolished the schem, what would the solution be?

On new builds and the local property tax, yes, it is used for housing, especially when the rates are raised. Additional money then goes into housing provisions under the requirements to be met. There are two review groups looking at the local property tax. One involves the Department of Finance in conjunction with my Department, while the other involves my Department alone in considering the baseline rates and allocations. The work will conclude at the end of the autumn.