Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Could the CCMA make a proposal to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide more one-bedroom housing? I do not understand why it is not happening. There should be a specific allocation within the housing plans for each local authority. When they are working with developers submitting turnkey projects, a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units should be included. In a housing crisis having thousands of houses with one person in a two-bedroom unit does not make sense. We need a specific scheme on sensory rooms that people can apply for backed up with medical evidence and an inspection from the engineer in the housing section.

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee. As a number of the members have said, it is nice to hear positive news on the work being done in our library service. Local authorities are working to ensure housing is allocated specifically based on the need of families where suitable housing is available. We need to ensure the houses are being constructed with the appropriate mix, such as a four-bedroom house with a downstairs bedroom. We tend to build many three-bedroom semi-detached houses with all upstairs bedrooms. We need a mix and we need more one-bedroom units. It is good to hear the positive work being done in the local authorities.

The CCMA, representing all the local authorities, should consider a nationwide roll-out of training across all local authorities. That would send out a very positive message, just as we want the message coming from Leinster House that our Parliament is an autism-friendly building and that all the Members and the staff who work here are all trained up and are autism aware.