Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

——to keep the mother in the local community. Instead of that she may have to go into a nursing home. That is not the policy we should pursue for housing. I would like the Minister to spell out what councils are doing in this regard.

A fully integrated policy should be adopted to tackle homelessness. This should include measures to prevent people from becoming homeless as well as provisions for those already without a home. Fine Gael opposes the Government's six month rule on rent supplements and all other welfare cuts that tend to drive more people further into poverty and homelessness.

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