Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Kelly, has belatedly made some broad announcements in recent times about how he proposes to deal with the issues facing people who are homeless and people in private rented accommodation whose rents are escalating. He has said that people should approach the Private Residential Tenancies Board in cases of disputes or disagreements between landlords and tenants, but I remind the House that the number of staff employed by the board has decreased by almost 50%. Given that an avalanche of people will approach the Private Residential Tenancies Board as a result of the stated policy of the Minister, Deputy Kelly, would it not be appropriate at this stage to increase the number of staff working in the board, which is grossly understaffed by any stretch of the imagination? Perhaps that issue can be addressed in the short term. Will legislation be required to fast-track planning for the modular units that are being proposed to deal with the housing crisis and the homelessness on our streets? The stated policy of the Minister is that the units in question will be in place in advance of Christmas.

Does this morning's launch of the patient advocacy service by the Minister for Health mean that the proposal in the programme for Government to establish a patient safety authority has been abandoned?

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