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

I thank Ms Hurley for her report. I have a question about the allocation of €116 million for the provision of homelessness services which represent an 18% increase on the allocation for 2017. May we have a breakdown for all of the local authorities? It is important to know where the money was spent in each of the 31 local authorities.

Does the Department have guidelines? Ms Hurley has said several times that it all goes back to the local authorities. When a homeless person presents to a local authority, it is up to it to deal with him or her. Does every local authority have guidelines in place? That is an important point. My understanding is that a person one local authority will describe as homeless is not considered as such by another.

Another very important issue raised by Deputy Jan O'Sullivan was that of advice. Are there people who will give it?

Ms Hurley spoke about the 22 family hubs, which should not be necessary, but it is good that we have them. They provide 550 family units. In the case of other local authorities such as my local authority in Carlow, is there a protocol for them to provide emergency accommodation? Will the officials tell me what the local authority in Carlow has by way of emergency accommodation? We do not have hubs or other accommodation in which we can put people. If it is accommodation in a refuge that is needed, we must go to Tusla or the health service on behalf of the mother and the children. As I realise this is Mr. Kelly's area of responsibility, what is in place in each local authority area? It is important to mention the 31 local authorities because they have a massive role to play in dealing with this issue which affects people's lives so much. What plan is in place in every local authority to provide emergency accommodation when it does not have housing and other accommodation available?

I note that funding was provided to have 22 place-finder officers available in the local authorities. As there are 31 local authorities, why is the number only 22? I have a great interest in this area. We talk about the HAP and other schemes, but every local authority deals with homelessness. Some are dealing with higher numbers than others, but it is important that every local authority be treated the same.

Ms Hurley spoke about the HAP scheme. I have massive concerns which I have raised previously with the officials. Having rent pressure zones in certain local authority areas and not in others is not going to work. It is not possible for the scheme to work when in neighbouring counties there are rent pressure zones, as in the case of County Carlow. The HAP scheme is fine and a change from the rent allowance scheme, but it must be examined. HAP scheme tenants need more security because they are at the mercy of landlords. That is the reality. If a landlord decides to sell, the tenant is given three months' notice, depending on how long he or she has been in the property. This issue must be addressed.

It also worries me that the Department has only built 500 local authority houses this year. It is a worry in the sense that-----