Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I repeat that there are four girls living in one room, with two double beds and no facilities for cooking or washing clothes. As I said, one of these girls is a seven year old child who has a life-limiting, life-threatening metabolic condition and is tube-fed. She is out of school and her health is suffering. I have spoken to a local special needs school in Dundalk that is willing to take her on.

I do not blame the Fingal County Council or the Louth County Council and I agree with the Minister of State that they do tremendous work. However, it makes no sense to pay €5,000 per month for one room in emergency accommodation when the family can get a house where each member will have their own room for roughly €1,500. It makes no sense whatsoever.

I have great confidence in the Minister of State. This Government has given a tremendous commitment to look after the housing needs of the people over the next two years. I work very closely with Mr. Denis McArdle, who looks after the homeless people in Dundalk, and with Mr. Joe McGuinness, the housing officer in Dundalk. Louth County Council is willing to take this family on, but the position at the moment is that Fingal County Council is paying, and one cannot be on two local authorities housing lists. We have to get the family off the Fingal County Council list and onto the Louth County Council list. In the meantime there might be four weeks without payment. The Minister of State is a very capable person, and I am not just saying that to build my case. This family is in a very bad way. It is not nice when one sees a seven year old child being wheeled into one's office in a wheelchair. I am pleading with the Minister of State, and I have faith in him. Please, can we help this family?

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