John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. That does not really answer the question. It probably raises more questions and concerns about a comprehensive communication plan which he seems to bat over to the Department of the Taoiseach. The need for a proper and comprehensive communication plan is something I have raised consistently. This is something we were told was being worked on 12 months ago. It was supposed to have been brought before Cabinet back in February and we are now being told by the Minister of State that this is still being worked on by the Department of the Taoiseach. We need clarity here. There is a communication plan or there is not. As I see it, there is no communication plan. There is no plan full stop. However, the critical part is engaging with communities and that has failed dismally. Public representatives have been lied to regarding the provision of IPAS accommodation and have been given half-truths, mistruths and total untruths. Communities feel abandoned by the lack of communication. It is one thing coming in retrospectively to tell them what is happening in their community, but that engagement needs to start from day one and that is seriously lacking.

See this speech in context