David Norris (Independent)

The matter of the homeless needs to be addressed because, for example, of the changes in the housing income support under the SWA rent supplement scheme. There are 60,000 people who rely on this and they are the most vulnerable people in our society. Requiring them to be in accommodation for six months before they can get a grant is a catch-22. How can they get into accommodation? I do not understand that, it is bizarre. There are some increases and I see the Minister of State just getting ready to tell me so. There is a 3% increase but it was cut by 5% last year. Even I who am almost totally innumerate can see that they are still being disadvantaged. We will have greater opportunity to debate these issues when the budget proposals are framed.

We need to bear in mind as a principle that the Government should not only encourage the wealthy in this idea that they will create jobs and so on, but must also provide a net for the most vulnerable. It should continue with projects such as developing the playground in Gardiner Street. That will do more good than we can possibly imagine, and I urge the Minister of State to try to keep the Breaking the Cycle scheme up to third level. He has no idea of the change that will make in our inner cities.