Dr. Niall Muldoon:

Yes, that is part of the reason we are opting for the aforementioned child and family administration and why we are linking with Departments, as opposed to us saying how one should proceed. We need to figure out how those concerned are doing at present, how they can be supported, what is best in that regard and what is practical in an effort to make it a joint venture so we can get some sort of traction on it.

With regard to overcrowding, we are very much aware of the invisible homeless. There is no doubt but that there is a sense that many families are couch surfing and trying to survive from day to day by living off the friendship and goodwill of family members. This has probably remained hidden. I hope the action plan will allow for the freeing up of new beds and new social housing builds. That is the key to it.

One of the things I am really delighted about is the move to mixed housing estates, so that we can create a new community style housing area where the children can grow up in an estate, whether their parents bought a house or are local authority tenants. When people live in the same space together, one is creating a strong message for children and families that society needs to operate as all one together. That is one of the positive things that can come through that system. We need to create the conditions for integration as opposed to previously when we would build an estate of social housing. Integration is key. Where integration does not happen, there is more scope for difficulties.

I hope the increase in house building will allow overcrowding to diminish. It will never cease completely but I hope we will build a new system.