Mr. Graham Doyle:

Yes, there is a circular from 2014 requiring that we do not issue advanced funding or that it is approved. In the case of the funding the Department chose to advance in this case, which amounted to €2 million, the urgency of the situation was extremely acute at that time. Up to 2,000 people were in receipt of homeless services of various types, including Housing First, from the Peter McVerry Trust at that point. There was a significant number of staff, around 500 people, but I do not have the exact number, and there were potential losses of staff and services. There was the potential for this to impact greatly on vulnerable members of the public availing of those services. In light of the urgency, that €2 million was advanced. It was funding the trust would get in any event. We absolutely acknowledge that, as the Comptroller and Auditor General pointed out, it was not in compliance with the circular. I apologise for that, but I stand over it in the sense of the urgency of the situation and the need to protect those services.