Ms Niamh Randall:

In terms of housing officers, this is something we would recommend but the challenge is the fact that a large body of people are competing for the same small pool of housing options, which is the biggest challenge we face. I know it is beyond the remit of what the committee is discussing today but ensuring there are adequate and affordable housing options for people is really important because the lack of them can put somebody's recovery at risk and put them at risk of re-offending. Somebody can fail time and again because they have not been given the support structures. The stress and strain have a huge impact on people and are costs on the State. As we know, prison systems are expensive, as is providing emergency accommodation, alcohol and drug treatment and mental health services. If we can support people better when we know they are at risk and vulnerable, it can make a huge difference. We need to really think about how we are investing in prison services, housing and the supports we are providing across the board.