Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

NAMA properties generally that were put forward were not only for the homeless but for all social housing provision. There have been a number of difficulties, not only with the financial allocations but also with the number of legal issues in relation to some of these estates.

I agree with Deputy Cowen that it is not an matter of throwing money at the problem. There is far too much being spent on emergency accommodation and that is why we have a policy. The housing-led approach is the policy. It is better for the client. Independent living accommodation with a social care plan is the way we want to address some of these issues. I can assure Deputy Cowen that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is looking at it in that context to provide a dispersed amount of accommodation, in particular in the Dublin regional area, to alleviate the current expensive solutions through emergency accommodation, particularly on the north side of Dublin.

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