Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

My advisers are saying "Yes", so it will be before the summer. Some strong points have been made about the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, and I know that Senator Hayden has a particular interest in that area. I heard her on radio recently making some good points. The deposit retention issue is in the programme for Government and I am committed to ensuring we move on that. There are a large number of issues concerning people who are entitled to get their deposits back but do not get them. On the other hand, some landlords are entitled to keep the deposit because certain things have happened. We must be fair to both sides in this regard but we do need a scheme.

I share Senator van Turnhout's concern about homelessness. It is one of the areas for which we have ring-fenced funding, although it has been difficult to do so because of the necessity for cuts. We are developing a housing-led policy and want to ensure we spend the money as well as we can for the benefit of homeless people. In that way, they will not be kept in the trap of hostels but will move on to homes. In particular, we are supporting voluntary housing associations which support people in their own homes. I was in one recently in Athlone where I was impressed by the supportive system that was being set up there through the Simon Community.

As regards the disability strategy, I have already met the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and intend to work with her on housing and disability areas in terms of addressing people's needs.

The Senator said there was no change in policy but there has been a huge change. We have had developer-led planning and building but we will not have that any more. We are focusing on the needs of individuals now.