Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I echo the sentiments expressed by my colleague in regard to Department of Social Protection. I have always found its staff to be 100% committed to working for people, particularly in terms of their responses to representations which we make on behalf of people who find it difficult to access information.

When one rings the staff, they are always focused on what the entitlements are. They are first class.

I have two questions. One was raised with me by somebody who works in a county council and has many dealings with people who are homeless. I have mentioned the view he put to me previously in the committee but I am anxious to hear the witness's view on it. He told me that, at present, one is not allowed to support a family in their family home, for example, a son or daughter who might wish to stay in the family home notwithstanding the fact that they may have a child or family. They must leave the home to get financial support. The point he made to me is that if there is no accommodation for people, which there is not, and there is space in the family home, the regulations could be changed for a limited, defined period of time. In other words, they could pay a rent at home. His point is that a fortune is being paid for bed and breakfast accommodation, hostels and so forth, which are not appropriate, whereas there could be a payment in respect of the family home, provided the room was available, as an exceptional measure. That is the point. Could they be paid a rent allowance? Obviously, it would not be a commercial rent but it would help to ease the burden as the family might be able stay at home. I realise there are all sorts of social problems which I will not detail now - all of us are aware of them - as to why that should not, and could not, happen but there are instances where it might and should happen. That is the case he made to me. There is a lot of space in homes that could be used and it might make a difference.

The other issue is the room to rent scheme, although I realise it is not the Department's responsibility. Under that scheme, people living in housing in which there is significant accommodation available can rent it to other people. It is the same principle, essentially, just that it would include direct family members. Under the room to rent scheme, I could have my nephew or niece living with me, take rent from him or her and the Department could pay him or her the rent but I cannot do that with my son or daughter in an exceptional case. That does not make sense if people are sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin or they are in inappropriate hostels with children sleeping on air beds in staff rooms. Is that worth considering?

The witness mentioned that the tenancy protection service is being extended. What is the situation in County Louth? She did not mention it in her opening statement. I submitted a parliamentary question on that while she was talking. That brings me to another problem. My office in inundated with people who are homeless and trying to get accommodation. That is the case with every Deputy. The problem is that local authorities do not have the capacity to advise, listen to or help these families in the way they did traditionally. As there are thousands of people on the list rather than hundreds, they are inclined to tell people to go away and come back in five years' time. Huge problems are building up. As the witness said, the tenancy protection scheme is, and I liked the words she used, an advocate for the applicant. We really need advocates for these people with officialdom and the local authority. People might not necessarily be able to articulate their best case, perhaps because of the difficulties they might have, medical problems, social problems or anti-social issues. If that is the case, it is hugely significant and important. Will the witness describe it a little more and what would be required to extend it throughout the country or to areas where there are other significant housing problems?