Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish to outline a local example of a possible solution which may help to meet some of the housing needs of those with intellectual disability who wish to live independently. The Brothers of Charity in Clare have gone to great lengths in recent years to provide for the accommodation needs through the rent supplement structure. Unfortunately, they have met a brick wall with the local community welfare manager. I can provide the Minister of State with her name afterwards if she so wishes. I commend the Brothers of Charity in Clare on being among the most progressive service providers in the country. I declare an interest, since my daughter, Colleen, receives a day service from them. I call on the Minister of State to liaise with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, to examine the possibility of a rent supplement scheme or rental accommodation scheme, RAS, which could be used to provide housing for those with an intellectual disability or mental health issues.

The Minister of State could also liaise with the Minister for Finance to consider the use of houses in NAMA, of which there are a great many throughout the country. They could provide an option and the Government would have no need to find the money for these. The service providers in Clare assure me they will provide the independent living supports necessary to those who need them. We must work within the structures already in place to find a quick solution and answer and this should be facilitated. I call on the Minister of State to add the Minister of Finance to the list of Ministers who should help in this regard.