Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

First, is the Department of Social and Family Affairs moving into providing for long-term housing needs? Is this now becoming a core function of the Department?

Second, the Minister, a little like her predecessor, has waxed lyrical on the benefits of RAS. In the areas where it is working it is quite positive and I recognise it is in its infancy. Despite that, 6,500 persons have transferred onto RAS, yet the numbers taking rent supplement have grown in the same period. The Minister stated that the numbers claiming rent supplement have remained fairly constant in the past three years, but there has still been a sizeable increase — up to 62,000 this year. How does the Government intend to address that?

Despite spending the vast sums that the Minister has mentioned in rent supplement, why does her Department continue to ignore the issue of quality and standards? If there was an example of anything showing a lack of joined-up thinking in Government, it is this. The Minister spoke of rent supplement being part of the overall housing policy. Who in the Government is in charge of the overall housing policy and what level of co-ordination exists? It seems there is little co-ordination. It seems the supplement is paid regardless of the quality or standard of the accommodation and that is quite unacceptable.

Will the rent supplement be used to fill this housing need indefinitely or does the Minister intend to tackle the fact that so many people are on it for more than 18 months? Is RAS the only solution the Minister has in mind?

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