Ms Niamh Randall:

There probably needs to be an inter-agency piece between the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and the Irish Prison Service to consider this particular issue. Access to a home is a fundamental right. The absence of a right to a home means that one cannot realise many of one's other human rights. It is just so difficult when one does not have a permanent place to call home. The Chairman is absolutely correct in this regard. In terms of easing the pressure on the system and the cost to the Exchequer and in terms of a range of other things, it absolutely makes sense.

In the context of responsibility, there is a national homelessness consultative committee and a cross-departmental team on homelessness, which is actually meeting tomorrow for the first time in almost a year. I certainly believe this issue should be on the agenda for the cross-departmental team on homelessness.