Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have some questions as I must slip out to the Business Committee before coming back, if that is okay. Will Ms Gleeson explain a bit more to us about private rented accommodation outside Dublin and the benefits that may add to the current system? I would like this simplified. Regardless of what heading any family or individual comes under, supports are made available to them and a safe home or environment is provided to them. Am I correct in saying that? I am loath to put anybody under a particular heading and dilute it all the way down. I do not want to put words into anybody's mouth here. What is important to me is that full support is given to those people in need and the State helps them. Am I correct in saying that is happening?

Am I correct in saying that throughout the country different local authorities have different thresholds for HAP, the adaptation grants and social housing criteria? It is so complex in different local authorities that it is very hard to put everything into the right categorisation. Am I right in saying that? We need to simplify the matter as it is so complex. Anybody who avails of a category of support should not be missed and the local authority should be there to engage with such people, whether they are on a transfer list, in emergency accommodation or a family hub, a hotel or on a social housing list. Supports should be available in each local authority, whether it is a place finder or the housing department in the local authority. They should engage with the people on those lists. Am I correct in saying those supports are available?

We spoke about private rented accommodation, with a figure of 50% given of people coming from the sector. The other 50% may come from the likes of family breakdowns or perhaps we are underestimating the number of people coming from the private rented sector. Am I right in saying the discretionary increase in HAP is helping to offset some of those terminations, although it is not the long-term solution? I have had a number of people coming to our clinic in the past month and I know it has only really kicked in within the past month but the place finder service has helped those people. It is when a notice to quit has been extended and they have engaged with the place finder service. It has been able to help them find accommodation and offset that fear of becoming homeless. I would love to see some figures around that, although witnesses might not have them here today. It is an important matter. I am not saying that any of what we are doing is perfect but we have a social housing construction programme that is coming into a steady stream, although we need far more units. Three years ago we did not have that stream. A year from now, where do witnesses think we will be in being able to support more families in exiting homelessness?