Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the things that concerned me about the issue of homelessness was the number of houses and flats, in particular in Dublin, which were void and awaiting essential repairs. That is why I allocated specific funding from the stimulus moneys available to me from the sale of State assets and formally in the budget last year to bring all those voids back into play. More regular maintenance is important to address the issue of homelessness and proper housing accommodation.

We also have an initiative in regard to energy sustainability. As the Deputy knows, we are retrofitting local authority and privately owned houses where the elderly are involved. All of those issues will be, and are being, addressed as we begin to have the capacity to again spend more money. We must cut our cloth according to our measure. We can only provide the staff we have the capacity to pay into the future. We are doing that incrementally and in a way that ensures we have efficiencies and that we are not wasting money in the process.

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