James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The RTB does not make an assessment as to whether somebody needs emergency accommodation. That can be done only by the relevant local authority. The funding comes into it when someone presents to a local authority and it assesses them as needing emergency accommodation. Those persons should be provided with emergency accommodation, and the Department of housing will ensure that funds are made available to local authorities to provide such accommodation. The point of funding is with the local authority assessment and delivery as opposed to any decision by the RTB. The RTB does not make those assessments.