Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 26:

In page 16, subsection 4, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:

"(c) ensure adequate provision of housing to prevent and reduce homelessness.".

Chapter 3 relates to the question of social housing support. The Bill should place homelessness as a top priority. This amendment is intended to advance that idea. The amendment aims to ensure that housing authorities have due regard to provide housing for homeless people in their housing service plans. The amendment would strengthen the Bill in the area of homelessness. The Minister of State spoke at length about "The Way Forward" strategy and about his proposals on the implementation plan. If this is set in legislation, it will give homelessness a high priority. Any housing authority member who reads this Bill will see that the Oireachtas has placed homelessness at the very top of its list of priorities. We propose this amendment in the hope that the Minister of State takes it on board.