Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely. I believe we have done the right thing. The State has done the right thing and we need to continue to do the right thing. However, my real concern is that the commercial private operators will now be given leases up until January 2029 and will buy bunk beds next month that will still be in use in January 2029. That is not good enough. Those leases and contracts are very lucrative. I am seeing concentrations and clusters of these properties where a building that should have accommodated six people at most is now accommodating 50. That is just not right. The State should not be funding that. It is welcome we engage with everybody who can help us to respond but, in so doing, we have to recognise it is not for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks anymore. This is potentially going to be until January 2029. These providers need to provide accommodation that is fit for purpose.