Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

At the moment, in order to apply for social housing, one needs to have handed over possession of one's home. The idea is that people would not have to take that ultimate step before being able to apply for social housing. They would not be disbarred from looking at social housing as an option, and being able to apply for it, while still living in their homes and trying to deal with the situation with their bank or building society. That is what is in mind there and, therefore, it is a question of awaiting the second report's recommendations, which will obviously be urgently considered by the Government within the next couple of weeks. The particular point the Deputy raised is about improving the current situation for people to look at social housing as an option while still in possession of a home that may subsequently be repossessed or vacated.

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