Ms Rosemary Hennigan:

That is absolutely right, unfortunately. That is why we have been trying to emphasise the importance of the data, so we can fully understand it. It is definitely the tip of the iceberg. Emergency accommodation should be a last safety net for somebody who finds himself or herself temporarily without a home for some reason, but at present it has become something of a default for this community. That is based, in part, on the failures of the HAP and the inaccessibility of the private rental sector, all of which illustrates the multifaceted nature of discrimination in Ireland against the Traveller community. We see it when it gets to the crisis point when there is nowhere else to go so people apply for emergency accommodation. That is why there is such an over-representation. Housing is the crisis point for this, but it is a much broader social problem that requires very serious attention.

It would be very good to know whether people would opt for Traveller-specific accommodation because, with regard to that provision, we need to know what we should be providing or what other demographics apply in terms of going to this community and providing for it better. At present, we are not doing that. We are hoping they will be able to slip into the existing structures for HAP and, as the Deputy said, there are major problems with the HAP scheme currently in the context of the rates and the top-ups which are payable alongside the differential rent. All of that is resulting in the individual stories that we hear all the time on the front line from people in completely unacceptable circumstances. The recent report from the Ombudsman for Children demonstrated some of that. Unfortunately, that is an extreme case but it is also not uncommon, as I am sure the committee is aware. It is an absolute crisis. Does Mr. Allen wish to add to that?