Ms Saoirse Brady:

Mr. Allen has covered output quite well and we agree with what he said. There is a commitment to provide rapid build houses in the programme for Government, which we consider when compiling our annual report card. We asked the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government about the commitment but it switched tack and told us that there is now a focus on putting that investment into family hubs. Since the rapid build programme was introduced in 2016, only 350 houses have been built. so it has not delivered. The answer is that local authorities need to invest and build more housing.

Regarding quality standards, we have been quite clear about our position and stated our choice is HIQA. We advocate for the authority to take on independent inspections of both direct provision accommodation as well as emergency homelessness accommodation. HIQA has standards and a good track record in carrying out inspections. It inspects places where children live such as Oberstown children detention school and residential units where children are in care. Recently we worked with the Department of Justice and Equality to produce the national standards for direct provision accommodation and we drew very heavily on HIQA standards. The authority would be the most cost-effective option because a new framework would not be needed to be put in place and the public has confidence in the authority We strongly advocate for HIQA to take over inspections. We have spoken to the authority's officials about such a role. They would have to expand their team and the Health Act would have to be amended. Amending the Health Act would probably be more time effective. It is not that big a change. We have drafted some provisions and I know Deputy Ó Broin has done so as well.