Mr. John-Mark McCafferty:

As we said in our opening address, the ramping up of that would be welcome. Admittedly, I probably did not see the potential of the tenantin situscheme in the sense that it has realised probably more than I might have thought possible. That is welcome but my caution is that it is still only benefits a small portion of the large share of people who are losing their homes. However, it is a positive interaction. Some years ago a number of the homelessness organisations and homelessness prevention organisations came together on this issue of sale. We were asked by the Taoiseach in 2018 or 2019 the question of what is the most pressing issue.

As far as we could see, the most pressing issue was notice of termination and the biggest cause of that, which is the still the case, was due to sale. We were asked if we could do something about the selling of these properties. We ran into issues with the advice from the Attorney General and so on and then it stopped. In hindsight, perhaps if collectively we had looked outside the box we might have been further down the road on this tenantin situ scheme. Again, it is one intervention.

Senator Boyhan asked about strategic interventions which links to the policy question. What is needed is supply, including cost rental and the roll-out of social housing by approved housing bodies and local authorities. We await the outturn of the discussions of the Housing Commission. Hopefully there will be a number of recommendations relating to the rental sector and by implication, to homelessness. Prevention is crucial but I would say that, would I not? Investment in prevention is really key, structurally.