Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I support the amendment. It is important to specify in this Part of the Bill that housing authorities must work to prevent and reduce homelessness. As was said in the context of earlier sections, it is important to see some reference to homelessness included in the Bill. I know the 1998 Act provides the definition and we have heard the Minister of State's views on that. We had a vote on the issue of that definition, but some specific reference is required to the need for housing authorities to provide this sort of service. A specific aim should be built into the legislation for such authorities to prevent and reduce homelessness. We should support that important principle in this legislation.