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

7. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has evaluated current housing needs in terms of dealing with the already large number of persons on local authority housing lists, which is increasing on a daily basis; the increased incidence of homelessness arising from supply and demand; if he expects to be in a position to deal with the serious problem of homelessness on a county basis; if he will develop a strategy to address these issues by way of short-term plans such as the purchase of existing units where available and, in the medium to long term, the identification of suitable sites, zoned where possible, or the prospect of acquiring such sites under the strategic infrastructural deficit heading with a view to ensuring a comprehensive housing programme on an ongoing basis, thereby eliminating the prospect of a repeat of the current crisis, which is due to the pursuit of incorrect policies over a 15-year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34320/14]

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