Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I cannot comment on people taking legal cases. The operation was done by the local authorities with the guidance of the Department. There are real difficulties with bonds and local authorities can struggle with them, depending on when an estate was built. I do not know if I have a real answer to the issue but if we can clarify the issue, we will revert to the Senator. Any of us who have been a member of a local authority know that in some of the older estates there may not be bonds at all. Certain examples may not be cash bonds in any case.

On behalf of myself and my predecessor in the role, Deputy Willie Penrose, I thank everybody for a very productive debate and, in particular, the constructive suggestions and support given in the work we are trying to do. We realise that we must be as imaginative and creative as possible and with housing, we are essentially trying to ensure that everybody who needs a home has a dwelling appropriate to their family needs.