Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)

I thank all the witnesses for being here today. I read their statements. Looking at the different interests, the fundamental problem seems to be that demand far exceeds supply. I have talked about this issue in the Houses before regarding whether emergency planning laws and emergency planning powers fast-track the delivery of housing and help to unlock stalled supply. I set up a homeless charity called Tiglin. I will speak in the context of my experience. We work with a cohort of people from backgrounds, usually, of addiction and marginalisation. Last Friday, I went to see Tabor House in Navan. Twelve individuals there have come through a wonderful rehabilitation programme - similar to our own - and are ready to hit the road. The problem is their HAP is not being accepted by any landlord. It is not because of their background or anything else, it is just the HAP itself. Is there something here that needs to be looked at or have the economics simply stopped working for HAP?

If one thing could be changed regarding housing supply and how to unlock it, especially for lower-income families or vulnerable households, what would that be? If the witnesses saw the briefing today from the St. Vincent de Paul today, it was about setting up a homeless prevention budget. I wonder what their thoughts are on that subject.

Turning to the witnesses from Threshold, what do they think of the new planning laws reducing the size of housing units to 32 sq. m? The Minister is saying it should benefit builders by bringing down the costs but also benefit purchasers by lowering the price. I am wondering how all that can be done. I would like the witnesses' views on these questions.