Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)

The Minister of State is wrong. It is not continuing. We have a letter from Cork City Council from 4 April, stating that the tenant in situ scheme has stopped in Cork City Council. We have tenants who went into the council, looking for the forms to apply, and the council would not even give them the forms. It said that it has no money left. I read out where all the money has gone. The Minister of State gave me an answer about €20 million. The €20 million is gone. There is no point talking about money that is spent. There are homes there. I spoke about a lady who was mentioned at a special meeting in Cork City Council on Tuesday at which every councillor in Cork supported a Sinn Féin motion to keep the tenant in situ scheme operating, including Fine Fáil, Fine Gael and the opposition. Everyone supported it. The Minister of State said he is working closely with others.

Annette Hawkins and her child will be homeless next week. She has been living in the house for 21 years and the Minister of State and his Government will be making her homeless next week. Jason Cashman, another man, is going to be homeless next week. He would have been homeless in February but the landlord let him stay there because the landlord thought the house was being bought. We have 33 families who are going to be homeless between now and the summer. Where are they going to go? The Minister of State is talking about discussions, about how it is going to be looked at, his personal opinion and ending long-term homelessness. Homelessness will go through the roof in Cork. Two hundred children are already in emergency accommodation in Cork and Kerry. This scheme saved 100 from going into emergency accommodation last year. The Minister of State's policy will potentially put 100 more children into emergency accommodation.

Does the Minister of State not get it? Does he not understand? Why has he put limits? People want to live in the houses. They do not want to be homeless. I ask the Minister of State for a straight answer. Will he and the Government give the money to save the 33 families from homelessness? Many more families need a tenant in situ scheme. It is a crazy decision and an absolute disgrace. Shame on the Minister of State. I am asking a straightforward question. Will he give them the money? Yes or no?

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