Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the Deputy's last question, this is a matter of considerable priority for the Government, both the demand for houses, the question of social housing and the issue of homelessness and those who have been put out of dwellings because of an increase in the rent. I want the Deputy to understand that the Government will respond here next week by setting out a series of proposals in regard to housing, social housing, homelessness and so on as part of the budgetary decisions.

The Deputy asked about the mental health review and the Mental Health Act. The review was in two phases, the first phase of which saw a steering group produce an interim report in June 2012. An expert group was set up in August 2012 to examine the recommendations made in that interim report and it was originally intended to produce a final report in 2013. That deadline was extended in part to allow the group to consider the implications of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 for the future in terms of mental health legislation.

The Bill has completed Second Stage and was referred to the select committee last December. A final meting of the expert group took place on 16 September, work on finalising the report of the group is continuing and it is expected to be presented to the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, in the near future.

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