Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

I understand the concerns of the Deputy and my answer might sound very bureaucratic. My Department is charged with trying to support an individual through the provision of income support. We are not responsible for standards of housing; other agencies have that responsibility. It behoves us to work as closely as possible with the agencies involved to ensure there is communication and synergy between the two. That means that if we become aware that accommodation is substandard, we take the appropriate action to make sure others are aware of it and there are health and safety or local authority inspections, as required.