Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Part of the reason it is more acute in the city is that some of the people with problems in the county find themselves in the city. We have heard this directly from the people who provide the services on the ground. I have been to the area and I have met people from the NGOs that provide emergency accommodation services and the local authority officials. I am aware of the issues. That is why I appointed a task force to deliver newly built social housing in Galway. That has not been happening to the degree that is required. New builds were built last year. We publish the figures every year on our website. I do not have the five-year figures with me now. New homes were built last year in Galway, although not enough. That is the reason there is a task force to manage both local authority areas.

With regard to emergency accommodation, we have increased the money for services for the homeless. There will be two new hubs in Galway this year because families are in emergency accommodation in hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation when they should not be. One of the hubs will open this month.

We also have the place finder service. That service helps families who find it difficult to access accommodation for a variety of reasons. It is not their fault. The place finder helps to identify and secure the accommodation and can help with the rent and deposit where that is required. It is a very important service and it is being utilised.

The Deputy referred to people looking for Traveller accommodation or people from the Traveller community seeking accommodation-----

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