Vol. 555 No. 1
40 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent survey conducted on behalf of the Simon Community which found that 71% of those surveyed supported a constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to housing; if the Government has plans to bring forward such an amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17336/02]
I am aware of the recent survey referred to in the question. The Government has no plans to bring forward an amendment to the Constitution in relation to a right to housing. This is in line with the 1996 report of the constitutional review group which concluded that the Constitution should not confer personal rights to freedom from poverty or to other economic or social entitlements. The group regarded these as being essentially political matters which should be the responsibility of elected representatives to address and determine in a democracy.
