Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Funchion. I will bring these concerns back to my officials, particularly on the application for and acceptance onto the LINC programme. The Deputy wonders if the lottery system is the fairest system there could be. It is my understanding that this was well thought out and identified. That is a form and an approach to fairness as distinct from what the Deputy has suggested, such as the first come first served approach. I am not so sure that this approach would necessarily be fair. I have spoken to providers also and I am aware that there are different instances or circumstances where, within a particular area, they were willing to share a LINC person if that person was able to be accepted, other than ahead of other settings also.

Some of those issues are being looked at by my officials but I will ask them to look at them again. It is important that we be confident that the approach in choosing is as fair as possible. I think a lottery system is suitable, at least for now. As I have indicated, this will go on for a number of years; hopefully that gives everyone an opportunity.

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