Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to draw attention to a letter to The Irish Times regarding the Heritage Bill 2016. Given the day that is in it, the letter might make good reading for people. I acknowledge some of the fears expressed in the letter by stakeholders in the context of the destruction of hedgerows. Senators might take the opportunity today to go outside for a moment and meet the stakeholders to whom I refer who will be gathering outside the gates of Leinster House in the next while. People from BirdWatch Ireland, the Irish Wildlife Trust, An Taisce, the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association, Hedge Laying Association of Ireland and many more will be present. It would be a good opportunity to hear some of their views before we come in later to debate one of the biggest matters in which they have a stake.

Will the Leader call on the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to come before the House to discuss an element of the housing crisis which is going unnoticed because of the new wave of homelessness that is taking place. There is an ageing cohort of individuals accessing services for the homeless. These people suffer from everything from Huntingdon's disease to old age dementia and they are still living in low-threshold accommodation without nursing care packages. Some of the hostels are basically serving as nursing homes but they lack the staff and resources necessary to provide adequate care. We have failed to acknowledge and address some of the issues that exist within the homelessness services because we have been primarily focused on the new wave of homelessness that has been happening in recent years.