Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do. I ask the Deputy Leader to request the Minister for Social Protection to come into the House in order that we can have a debate on homelessness. I know of the case of a young man who granted might have a few blemishes on his CV but he is a citizen of the State. He is homeless and while accommodation is provided in a hostel-type building, he will not go there because he has found it is full of drugs and drink and, hence, he cannot receive any social welfare payment because he does not have an address. I believe that in other counties people in similar circumstances are being accommodated by community welfare officers etc., but that is not the case in County Kerry. This young man has no money. He made a good point recently when he said to me, "Tom, if you had not eaten for three days, you would steal too."