Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, it has all changed and I am the perfect lady now but it did me no harm. The street was our playground. Everyone knew everyone else and everyone looked after everyone else's children.

I realise times are different but there is no reason there could not be schemes to encourage shop owners to convert the upstairs part of a building to allow accommodation for single people. That is another issue. Many people are looking for single accommodation, whether they are separated or whatever. This accommodation would be perfect locations for them.

Other people are getting their businesses re-evaluated for rates. They find that they are being rated on the upstairs part of their business. I know a girl in Athlone who has a business. Since the upstairs part of her building is empty, she is being charged a higher rate for it. If there was an incentive for her to do it up and turn it into a couple of apartments, then it would be a good idea. It might alleviate the problem and take some single people off the housing list, which is what we want to do. They are some suggestions. I would like if the Minister of State gave me an answer on some of them.