Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. I know she is doing everything possible. However, I am afraid that events are catching up with us all. In my time in public life I have never seen the urgency of the situation that is now presenting itself. A number of families have presented as homeless that ordinarily would have been able to provide themselves with homes. They cannot rent a house because none is available. They cannot buy a house because no finance is available from the lending sector. The position that is now emerging is not like it was 20 or 30 years ago where somebody got a mobile home and planted it beside a house because that is now prevented by planning rules and regulations. The emergency housing facilities and hostels are full and there is no place to go. Some couples with children are now living in the open air. Due to the severity of the winter for the moment they are accommodated by their respective families but families have broken up as a result of the situation. In light of the situation could an emergency measure be taken to address the more serious parts of the issue with a view to achieving results in the very short term? We do not have time to play with.

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