Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I thank the Deputy for acknowledging that the homeless budget is not being cut. It is, in fact, being maintained.

With regard to arrangements with NAMA and discussions on acquiring housing from the agency, it will depend on the houses available. In some cases it will be appropriate to acquire houses and in others to rent them. Leasing terms will depend on the set of circumstances involved. The intention is that residential property currently under the control of NAMA will be made available as social housing for those in need of it. That work is being progressed by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.

I am aware of some cases of people being removed from the housing list when they have been offered RAS properties. The circumstances vary. Some housing applicants are happy to accept RAS tenancies. In other cases in which RAS tenancies were offered the tenants were assured that they would not be removed from the housing list. In these cases I understand they are being maintained.

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