Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The acquisition of private housing is good, and we have seen it in community-based models of care for people formerly in mental institutions now being well cared for in the community. There are various means and methods, although the process requires housing officers and departments in all our local authorities to be up to speed and open to some of these changes. The changes could be tried in a far more energetic fashion than some authorities do.

Some counties are very good at the process and sometimes it comes down to personnel in Departments who have an ability to adapt and do the job as envisaged. Some continue on a narrow train waiting for allocations to be made and houses to be built. Others are more proactive and find far better solutions on the market which could be more cost-efficient. There is a varying degree of success in that which must be addressed by local authorities.

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