Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

From my perspective alone and notwithstanding anything the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government might be doing, it has often been the case in my years in the Houses that we have declared something as an emergency such as the climate emergency, for instance. It is all well and good to declare something as an emergency, but something has to be done after the emergency is declared, or preferably beforehand. I have visited hubs, hotels, social housing, unsuitable and suitable private rented accommodation and seen all of it. I am sure I have not seen half as much as Mr. Allen, but I like to think I have a good grasp of this issue. My observation on it is that if we enshrine primary legislation, with specific information on and tasks to be performed for children, how will we implement it, with the local authorities and approved housing bodies? We must recognise that citizens are citizens, regardless of whether they are children or adults. Is it fair and equitable to take a person who is 15th, 20th or 30th on a waiting list for social housing or bump up a person on the waiting list for a six-month hub placement on the basis that there is a child to be housed? I appreciate the remit of the committee, but at the same I recognise that we are dealing with citizens, individuals who reside in the State, who have a right to housing, as enshrined in legislation. I recognise everything that comes with it.

I refer to hubs and the standard of same which Mr. Allen referenced in his submission. It is a critical contribution to this discussion. Deputy Rabbitte and I, with a former member of the committee, were in a family hub in Inchicore and I was impressed by it. I was impressed by the services being provided. In Mr. Allen's professional experience, are we rolling out such facilities and is the standard the same? Are there variances in how they are being managed? I mention the fact that the Ombudsman has highlighted certain deficiencies. Does Mr. Allen have recommendations he would like to make?