Ms Mary Mulholland:

One of the items the Deputy raised was people knowing where they are on the list. The Department is very clear and is of the view that people should be able to find out where they are on the list. A number of local authorities are very clear on that also. In Dublin City Council, the applicant gets a reference number and can track it that way. In some local authority areas it is possible but in others they do not tend to give the applicant the place on the list. The reason those local authorities give for not providing the information is that they do not wish to raise expectations as people will be disappointed because something may happen. People are watching the list. The Department would be in favour of people knowing their place on the list. The operation of the list is not straightforward so it is understandable in some local authority areas that they try not to raise people's expectations. From the examination we have done during the course of the review, however, we are seeing that many local authorities give the information on where the applicant is placed on the list but some do not. Those that do not give the information will engage with the applicant and tell him or her about the waiting period and the potential timeframe.