Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2014

Vol. 860 No. 1

Leaders' Questions

Deputy Micheál Martin

I wish to raise again with the Taoiseach the absolute urgent need for an emergency intervention by the Government to deal with the homelessness issue in the country, particularly in the capital city, Dublin.

Will he deal with the fact that last evening, bearing in mind that it is winter, there were approximately 168 adults on the streets, while approximately 800 children were in emergency accommodation, including hotel rooms across the country? In the most recent days, the very sad death of Jonathan Corrie occurred ten feet from the steps of Leinster House itself. That illustrated starkly the absolute sense of emergency and urgency around the homelessness issue right now in 2014. It is a problem that has escalated dramatically over the last 12 months, according to Focus Ireland and the Simon Community.

I asked the Taoiseach last week about the cap on rent allowance. I raised the issue of its inadequacy and prior to that outlined the very well researched article by Kitty Holland in The Irish Times, which detailed the appalling situation facing families and children. The Taoiseach will also have read her article about Shane and Ciara Dwyer, which clearly illustrated the dilemma. This married couple had been sleeping rough in their car for over three weeks prior to the publication of the article. Their rent had increased by 50%. As a couple, they were entitled to €540 rent allowance per month and were allowed to pay rent capped at €750 per month. The estate agent told them they had to sign a lease for €1,050, with the result that they had to hand back the keys and go. That is just one illustration from west Tallaght, but it is a national issue. Deputies are meeting couples and single parents who are saying they cannot rent above the cap and must live in dingy, damp accommodation rather than elsewhere at a different price threshold. It is something the Government has not responded to. Targets for 2018 or 2020 are meaningless to children and families in a serious plight.

The Simon Community said it was extremely disappointed in the Government's failure in the budget for 2015 to address rent supplement levels. The Taoiseach still has a chance to do so. Focus Ireland, the Simon Community and the various other groups involved are saying that changing the rent supplement framework and increasing the rent caps are required as an immediate, urgent intervention. That would have a very significant impact in alleviating the pressures on families who are homeless and who are about to be made homeless as a result of the Government's inaction.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Martin for raising the issue of homelessness. It is not the first time it has been raised here. It is most distressing to find that a man died on the street over the last few days. Everyone agrees that this is an issue that is not new but that has been exacerbated in the last number of years in particular. It is also fair to say that the extent of moneys being provided for the NGOs is significant, to put it mildly, and what is needed now is follow-through to ensure that there is an effective response for those who are homeless. As Deputy Martin is well aware, these are in different categories. There are those who are on the streets, there are those who are in bed and breakfast accommodation and there are those who are in hotels, particularly with children, which is not an ideal situation by any means. In regard to rough sleeping on the streets of Dublin, where the count has shown an increase in numbers, it is not actually a question of the allocation of money. For instance, arrangements are now in place to expand the number of emergency bed spaces. A total of 164 beds are being sourced by Dublin City Council, of which 38 are already in place. There will be another 30 places by 8 December, which is later this week, another 76 by 15 December and a further 20 by 5 January. At the last count, there were 160 people sleeping rough in Dublin.

There are 665 vacant units in the hands of Dublin City Council which are being refurbished and returned to use. Work has started on 245 of those and work on a further 410 will commence in the next four to six months. The Housing First service for rough sleepers is under way in Dublin. The programme is run by Focus Ireland and the Fr. McVerry Trust to support rough sleepers to find and sustain tenancies. There is also the matter of housing allocations, on which the Minister has written to everybody, and the tenancy sustainment protocol. An additional €10.5 million was made available in this regard for homeless people.

The Minister is calling a meeting on Thursday to talk to NGOs and meet with the Archbishop of Dublin and the Lord Mayor. The matter has been on the agenda of the Cabinet sub-committee on homelessness and social policy for the last number of weeks. That will be dealt with next Monday. I hope that, arising from the meetings that the Minister will have with the Lord Mayor, the archbishop, the chairpersons of local authorities and representatives of NGOs, we can reflect on the best impact and effect that can be obtained from the considerable moneys being spent through the NGOs to ensure that rough sleepers can be given a roof over their heads and a place to stay in the first instance. From speaking to people, it is clear that some of these cases are so complex that it is very difficult to say one could get all the people off the streets. Some of them have particular problems.

I found it distressing to hear about the man who lost his life in Molesworth Street. I recall, as the Ceann Comhairle will, the good lady who used to sleep over there in a box in the mid-1970s. Despite the efforts of all the agencies at the time, it was very difficult to get her to agree to stay in a hostel or any other place. I genuinely believe, given the number of vacant rooms and spaces, that if we can get everybody focused on a single objective, the number of rough sleepers in the city will be very limited and those will be the very complex cases.

In respect of the other issues of homelessness, where people are in bed and breakfast accommodation and hotels, the Minister has dealt with these matters at considerable length. Clearly, the allocation over the next number of years of €2.2 billion for social and affordable housing is the way to go. No matter what one does, one has to build those houses. That means planning permissions, income streams for contractors and getting the blocks and houses in place. Deputy Martin should believe me that it is not the intention of Government to see anybody homeless.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Stop the evictions.

The Taoiseach

It is a problem that has become exacerbated in recent years, and we must deal with it in the most effective way possible.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I find the Taoiseach's response incredible. It is equally incredible that, prior to launching a €3 billion strategy, the Minister did not meet with Focus Ireland, the Simon Community, Fr. Peter McVerry and others to discuss the specific issue of homelessness. That is a disgrace. It should not take the death of someone close to Leinster House to necessitate such a meeting, or a call by the archbishop for such a summit for the Minister to hold one. It is striking that the Taoiseach's most significant policy initiative, if we are to believe everything we read in the media, was his statement on Friday evening that he was going to reduce the top rate of tax and look after the very wealthy. That is his number one policy priority, not the 800 children in hotel rooms and apartments. Members can nod their heads all they like, but that is the bottom line.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should put a question.

Deputy Micheál Martin

If the Taoiseach had bothered to talk to the Simon Community, its representatives would have told him what he could do immediately. That body says it is extremely disappointed by the failure of the Government to address rent supplement levels in budget 2015. It stated:

Rent supplement levels must be increased across the country as a matter of urgency. They are too low when compared to market rents ...

Is the Taoiseach listening? I ask Deputy Varadkar to listen also.

[T]his is causing homelessness and preventing people from leaving homelessness.

I am not saying this; the people on the frontier are. What the Government did to rent supplement caused and accelerated the crisis in terms of families having to be put up in emergency accommodation in hotels, rooms and apartments and going out to the airport to heat themselves. The Government took its eye off the ball on this. There was no urgency or sense of emergency. Other things have mattered to the Government in terms of politicking, electoral issues and all that kind of stuff, but this is a crisis that everyone wants resolved.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is way over time.

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Taoiseach did not address the question I asked about the rent supplement.

An Ceann Comhairle

He should ask a supplementary question.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I put this question last week and the week before and did not receive a response. I will put it a final time. Will the Government change the rent supplement and rent cap levels? The market has changed dramatically and the Government has simply not responded to the marketplace. People are being left homeless as a result. Focus Ireland indicated that it had to deal with 45 families in October compared to eight families in the same month last year. The position has worsened dramatically. While I accept that changing the rent supplement regime is not the only solution, such a change would have an immediate impact.

The Taoiseach

Deputy Martin's answer is somewhat incredible. He states the Government is focusing on the very wealthy. Does he believe that people earning €35,000, €45,000, €55,000 or €65,000 are very wealthy?

Deputy Micheál Martin

I did not say people on such incomes were very wealthy.

The Taoiseach

Yes, he did.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

They are still better off than the people on the side of the street. The Government should get its priorities right.

The Taoiseach

Deputy Martin did not say "wealthy"; he said "very wealthy".

Deputy Barry Cowen

The wealthy would also like the Government to deal effectively with homelessness.

The Taoiseach

The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, defined the middle income groups as those earning between €32,800 and €70,000. Deputy Martin considers these people to be very wealthy.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Please allow the Taoiseach to continue.

The Taoiseach

The structure of the tax code introduced by the Government in recent years was not to increase income tax.

Deputy Barry Cowen

Does the Taoiseach want to electioneer or to govern?

The Taoiseach

It was to adjust the tax system to allow for the creation of jobs and investment in the economy through measures such as the reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector, the abolition of the air travel tax and the introduction of the home extension tax credit, which has created several thousand jobs to the benefit of everybody. I do not accept the Deputy's argument that the Government is focusing on the very wealthy.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

Of course it is.

The Taoiseach

He can go and talk to his people in Cork and ask some of those on €40,000 or €50,000 whether they consider themselves to be very wealthy. The Fianna Fáil Party left the country in a state where the Government had to deal with this.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

The Government gave the very wealthy a gift.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

The Taoiseach should answer the question.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are nearly six minutes over time on this question.

Deputy Willie O'Dea

That is because the Taoiseach will not answer the question.

The Taoiseach

I also find it incredulous that the Deputy would leave the death of a man in a doorway as just an issue passing by.

Deputy Micheál Martin

What did the Taoiseach just say?

Deputy Barry Cowen

He should repeat that.

The Taoiseach

This is not a question of money but of managing effectively to have as many people as possible off the streets.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

They are on the streets because they cannot afford their rents.

The Taoiseach

For this reason, the Minister has called the non-governmental organisations, the chairpersons of local authorities, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Lord Mayor of Dublin to a meeting on Thursday.

Deputy Barry Cowen

He should have done that long ago.

Deputy Micheál Martin

It is the end of the year.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

The Government has been in power for nearly four years.

Deputy Barry Cowen

The Government has a four year strategy, yet it did not call such a meeting until now.

The Taoiseach

I pointed out to the Deputy-----

An Ceann Comhairle

I ask the Taoiseach to co-operate.

The Taoiseach

-----that 38 places are already in place, another 30 will be ready by 8 December and 76-----

Deputy Micheál Martin

I asked the Taoiseach a question about rent allowance and the caps.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy never listens.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Will he answer the question? We have had enough trouble in this House with people not answering questions.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are nearly seven minutes over time on this question.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Will the Taoiseach answer my question on rent caps and the rent supplement?

The Taoiseach

I will answer it. As with everything else, the Deputy's party does not have any policy position in place.

Deputy Barry Cowen

Rubbish. Why does the Taoiseach not answer the question?

Deputy Dara Calleary

The Government does not have a policy for dealing with homelessness.

The Taoiseach

There will be 76 places available by 15 December and a further 20 places will be in place by 5 January 2015.

Raising the rent limits may not be the solution Deputy Martin puts forward.

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Simon Community and Focus Ireland put it forward.

The Taoiseach

It is likely to add to rent inflation and impact not only on rent supplement recipients but also on many lower income families and their children, some of whom may be students.

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Government missed the boat.

The Taoiseach

The Department of Social Protection is reviewing the maximum rent limits.

Deputy Barry Cowen

What is the point of reviewing them if the Government will not allow them to be increased.

The Taoiseach

The analysis shows that the impact of increasing limits will yield only a very marginal increase in available supply for rent supplement recipients.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

That is not true.

The Taoiseach

The only certainty in respect of raising limits is that it will increase costs disproportionately, with little or no other new housing involved.

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Taoiseach needs to read from a briefing note because he has no instinctive sense about what is the problem.

The Taoiseach

The Government has allocated €2.2 billion-----

An Ceann Comhairle

The Taoiseach must conclude.

Deputy Micheál Martin

He is out of touch.

The Taoiseach

Deputy Martin never listens.

Deputy Barry Cowen

The Taoiseach never answers.

The Taoiseach

The analysis of the Department of Social Protection shows that raising the rent supplement limit will increase very marginally the opportunity and disproportionately affect those who may next become homeless. That is not the answer. The answer is houses, houses and more houses, which means builders and investment. The Government has put this in place.

Deputy Barry Cowen

Is the review taking place or not?

An Ceann Comhairle

I want to be fair to everybody here. We were eight minutes over time on the question. I ask the House to respect the Chair please or else increase the time limits.

Deputy Gerry Adams

People were shocked by the death yesterday of Jonathan Corrie in a doorway less than 50 yards from this House. Our thoughts are with Mr. Corrie's family and loved ones. The Taoiseach stated he was distressed to hear of Mr. Corrie's death and I am sure that is true. However, I and others have been raising for ages the Government's failure to tackle the housing crisis. He should not be surprised, therefore, that in this day and age a man can die on the streets of our capital city just yards from this Parliament because he did not have a home.

The Taoiseach stated there are complex issues involved. The fact is the State failed Mr. Corrie. I listened this morning to a woman called Sophie Pigot speaking on "Today with Sean O'Rourke". Ms Pigot, whom I do not know, struck me as being very caring and modest. Speaking of how she tried to get Mr. Corrie help, she said, "We are a small society. He could have been my second cousin." That is the truth of the matter. Under the Taoiseach's watch, however, anyone could become homeless.

This morning, I visited the spot where Mr. Corrie died to pay my respects. There were bouquets of flowers, some with notes attached. One note read:

Jonathan RIP. I feel privileged to have known you. You were an absolute gentleman and a pleasure to chat to. I'll miss seeing you around and stopping for a chat.

Another read:

In loving memory of Jonathan Corrie RIP, who died bravely in the cold in a Dublin doorway. I feel ashamed that in a country full of spare houses and rooms, that we did not put a roof over your head. Now is the time for Government, NAMA, developers, Councils, the public, to take action as a national emergency.

The number of people sleeping rough in Dublin surged by 20% this year. This Christmas, 168 people are expected to sleep on the streets, which is three times the figure recorded when records began in 2007. Some 30 people are sleeping rough in my constituency and 800 children across the State are housed in temporary emergency accommodation. Will the Taoiseach facilitate an emergency Dáil debate on the escalating and chronic homelessness crisis? Will he initiate an emergency intervention?

The Taoiseach

As I stated to Deputy Martin, the Government has allocated €55.5 million of taxpayers' money towards dealing with homelessness. I also pointed out that time limits have been set for bringing into use rooms and vacant homes that are currently being repaired for homeless people. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government meets senior officials at 9 a.m. every Monday morning to discuss the progress being made on this issue.

The issue is not only about the allocation of money - there is more money than ever - but about how one gets a response from that. My immediate concern is the people who have been sleeping in doorways around this city, some of whom I know, having spoken to them over the years. Some of them have complicated problems and do not want to stay in accommodation. The nature of their problems makes the issue very difficult. The Minister has called together the chairs of the local authorities, senior officials, the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Archbishop of Dublin and non-governmental organisations to ascertain the reasons we have not done things better and 160 rough sleepers were recorded in the latest count.

Once the meeting on Thursday has finished, the Cabinet sub-committee will deal with its outcome and make decisions at Monday's meeting. Perhaps we could have a debate in the House on this day week focusing on the outcome of these decisions and on how to get a better result and effect from moneys that are being provided to NGOs, which do very good work in very difficult circumstances. That is my immediate concern.

Deputy Ruth Coppinger

It is about time we had a debate on the issue.

The Taoiseach

In respect of the longer term homeless - those in bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation - the question of the rent supplement cap being changed would, according to the analysis of the Department of Social Protection, bring very little extra relief. As Deputy Adams is well aware, the answer is the provision of proper housing. This requires investment, which the Government has provided.

It is now up to the local authorities to follow the process of having planning permission granted and the contractors on site. No matter what one does, one cannot deal with this effectively unless one provides adequate numbers of houses and apartments for people to live in. That is the answer.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

The road to Damascus.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy is well aware that during the so-called good years 90,000 houses were built when we needed 25,000 or 30,000. Last year, only 9,000 houses were built in the country. Clearly, there is a ferocious demand for housing and accommodation in the Dublin area, and the answer is that we have to invest, build and provide for that. The Government has signed off on a three year programme for social and affordable housing totalling €2.2 billion, a figure higher than ever before. That is of no value until one sees the concrete and blocks on the ground and houses being provided. Therein lies the answer.

Deputy Gerry Adams

I am taking the Taoiseach's answer as meaning that we will have an emergency debate next week. If that is the case, it is welcome, but it is very unfortunate that it comes after the Government has published its housing policy. That strategy is fatally flawed. It does not provide any response to the current homelessness crisis. It says nothing about the crucial issue of rent supplement caps or rent controls, despite the fact they are some of the factors driving families onto the streets.

The figure of 35,000 in regard to social housing does not add up. The Taoiseach, inadvertently or not, gave an answer. He said we are not building enough proper houses, which is the answer. Whose fault and responsibility is that? We have seen emergency time provided here to cater for major bankers and the elites. The Government supports socialism for the rich but the poor people, those at the bottom of the ladder, are not being supported. The Taoiseach obviously hopes that the private sector will fill this gap. He acknowledged that for decades the State has not taken responsibility for social housing, but instead handed it over to the private sector.

It is ridiculous that he is meeting the people on the front line after, rather than before, he published his housing policy. Now that he has been converted to some degree to some of these issues, does he agree that local authorities and voluntary housing associations are best placed to deliver the homes that people need and that they need a level of direct State investment far above that indicated in the latest Government strategy? Will he commit to this in the upcoming period?

This is happening on the Taoiseach's watch. He cannot blame anybody for this issue. I tried to approach it positively and did not want to score points. There is a major emergency, which has been flagged week in and week out for the past couple of years in the Chamber. Will the Taoiseach now commit to recognising that there has to be direct State funding to give people who need social housing the homes they require?

The Taoiseach

We will have a debate on this following the meeting of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with NGOs and local authorities this week. Following the outcome of that, it will be considered at the Cabinet sub-committee next Monday. It is to be hoped further action can be taken at the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday. In light of the particular concentration of homelessness in the Dublin region-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Everywhere.

The Taoiseach

-----the Department has agreed a tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisation for some time so that families who are at risk and on rent supplement can have a more timely and appropriate intervention made on their behalf. This is already in operation and we want to see it continue. I was responding to Deputy Martin that a blanket increase in rent supplement will not solve the problem.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Answer my question.

The Taoiseach

It will for some people-----

Deputy Micheál Martin

It is important.

The Taoiseach

-----but for others it will just move them into the next category of people likely to become homeless. The answer is already in the housing strategy published by the Government. The allocation made includes direct build costs for social and affordable housing for the first time in years. There is a €2.2 billion allocation for housing.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

It is still less than 2007.

The Taoiseach

As the Minister pointed out in detailed discussions here, one would hope that at the end of that programme in 2020 we would have eliminated all of those on the waiting lists for social and affordable housing. The strategy includes direct provision and the involvement of voluntary housing organisations. That is where the answer lies. One can move things around in terms of rent supplement on the same number of vacancies available, but that does not answer the question in terms of rising demand.

We have to have investment, building and more houses and apartments. That is the central feature of the Government's housing strategy and we have made the decision to allocate sufficient money to do that. In respect of those who are in difficulty now, that tenancy sustainment protocol is in place with the Dublin authorities.

Deputy Catherine Murphy

The Taoiseach keeps telling us that the country has the fundamentals right. Is there anything more fundamental than having a roof over one's head? As has been said already, just yards from here a man, Mr. Jonathan Corrie, died on our streets. It was a needless and lonely death and it is just plain wrong.

This is combined with a situation whereby hundreds of children and their families are forced to exist in temporary accommodation. It is a fundamental statement of what the Taoiseach views as the priorities. He said hostel and temporary accommodation is not ideal, but it has become almost normal. There is nothing normal about families living in temporary hostel accommodation. All his pronouncements at home and abroad of how we have turned a corner never include any reference to the social consequences. That is where the Taoiseach seems to be thoroughly detached from the realities of many people's lives.

On television last night I saw the Taoiseach spitting fire about the awful allegations of abuse in a County Mayo care home. He was livid. He described the situation in the care home as intolerable. I am still waiting for that sense of outrage from him in regard to homelessness and the families existing in temporary accommodation. Long-term damage is being done to children who are in stressful environments with their families.

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry Deputy, you are over time.

Deputy Catherine Murphy

The Taoiseach cannot call an inquiry into this because the buck stops in one place, that is, with him. For every day there is inaction, the situation will worsen.

The €55 million for homelessness to which the Taoiseach referred does not involve spending €55 million on what he spent it on two years ago. It has been spent throughout the country to try to assist functioning families whom one would never have seen in a homeless situation before. Rent assistance and caps do matter. Is the Taoiseach excluding them from the solution to this crisis? Will the forum on Thursday only consider the Dublin area? Will it discuss those who sleep rough or the wider issue of homelessness?

The Taoiseach

The answer to the Deputy's first question is that it is not excluded. I have already pointed out that the analysis of the Department of Social Protection indicates that it is not the answer. It is in some cases, but if the cap is raised others who are next in line and who are deemed to be on the verge of homelessness will then get into difficulties. The sustainable temporary situation which applies to local authorities will continue. The meeting on Thursday is essentially about the situation in Dublin, which is the worst in the country. It does not mean that other areas are not the focus of attention.

As the Deputy knows, it is not right to have families with children, in particular, staying in bed and breakfast accommodation or hotel rooms. The reason this is happening is that there is a demand for housing which does not exist.

How will we provide housing except by investing to build?

The social impact investing project, as it is called, increased the homelessness action team, dealing with families presenting as homeless and moving them on to other housing options as quickly as possible. Under that project, 136 homeless families, including 250 children, were moved out of emergency accommodation into suitable long-term accommodation. Focus Ireland has engaged directly with 100 of those 136 families and suitable alternative accommodation has been provided for them. Work is under way to maintain them in these new tenancies. The prevention campaign launched in June 2014 has assisted in raising awareness among families and others of their rights as tenants and of where to go for support.

Also, the inter-tenant sustainability protocol, agreed between Dublin City Council, the Department of Social Protection, the other three Dublin local authorities and Threshold as part of this campaign, is working. This service is useful in supporting families at risk of losing tenancies in the private rented sector. The council reports that over 2,050 households contacted the service up to the end of October, of which over 850 households were assisted through practical interventions and a further 200 tenancies are protected as a result of those interventions. The interventions included increases to the rent supplement limits in order to ensure the tenants could remain in their private rented accommodation. Deputies are aware this protocol has been in place for some time.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, has issued an invitation to elected mayors and CEOs of voluntary organisations to meet him on Thursday. We hope to follow with an analysis of the outcome of that meeting on Monday and we can debate the issue in the House on Tuesday. We must invest in building suitable houses, apartments and other suitable accommodation -----

Deputy Róisín Shortall

Why is the Government not doing that?

The Taoiseach

We cannot do that without the Government having made a decision. That decision has been made by the Government. The structure is in place and we must get on with it now.

Deputy Catherine Murphy

I have been raising this issue for the past 18 months or two years, much of the time with the Minister for Social Protection and specifically in regard to rent assistance and rent caps. Not a day goes by without people coming into my office to talk about their embarrassment at finding themselves in this situation. Most of these people are in functioning families. They talk about being in despair and their sense of disbelief because this was never a situation they thought they would find themselves in. They talk about stress and about being on medication to deal with it and about that stress transferring to their children. This has not just been happening in the past couple of weeks, but has been going on for the past couple of years. The issue has been well flagged.

One thing homeless agencies advise is that we must try to prevent homelessness. They suggest this is where rent caps are important and that we must negotiate an extra three, six or nine months to keep people in their homes. Many of these homes are being sold because the banks are insisting on this. Others are being sold because people are getting out of negative equity. There is a time lag attached to this.

The Taoiseach said this is not about money, but I believe it is and it compares badly with what is happening elsewhere. Last week, we heard on the news that €100 million extra was found to cover the under-estimate in the water metering programme which the consultants had got wrong. That money needs to be put into this area and into a homelessness prevention programme that will buy the extra time required until some of the houses being built come on stream in a few years time. This is critical. I urge the Taoiseach to ensure that is a feature of this initiative.

The Taoiseach

In respect of the Deputy's comment, she is aware the difference between the estimate and the formal tender in regard to the water metering programme was very clear.

Last May, the Government approved the implementation plan on the State's response to homelessness, which has set out the national strategy. This plan approved 80 particular practical decisions to deal with this issue and to deliver 2,700 units of accommodation before the end of 2016. The timescale for this is set out. Dublin City Council has amended its housing allocation scheme to give greater priority to the homeless and 25% will be allocated to homeless households in 2014. This allocation has been amended again recently and the number of homes allocated for the homeless has been increased from 222 to 310 in 2014. By the end of quarter 3 of this year, some 545 individuals had moved on from homelessness to independent living in the Dublin region. This is an improvement. Under the implementation plan, 900 units will be allocated annually for homeless households.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

These people are being replaced by others.

The Taoiseach

The target for the number of homeless households in the Dublin region will be reviewed in early 2015, in light of the progress being made in respect of the Dublin action plan. The money is there, the decision has been made and the strategy is laid out. However, there is no answer to the Deputy's question until blocks, concrete and accommodation are provided. No matter what one does, one can only deal with demand by meeting demand, which means building and investment.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

What has the Government been doing for the past four years?

The Taoiseach

The Government has made its decisions, the money is in place and the structures must now be followed. In the meantime, we must ensure a better response, particularly for the homeless and people sleeping rough, for the coming winter and for the work the NGOs do in respect of this issue. I hope that arising from the death of the unfortunate man down the street this week's meeting will ensure a follow through so that we get the best possible result. I know from experience that it is exceptionally difficult to get some of those who are homeless to want to move to accommodation because of the nature of the problems they have.

Deputy Ruth Coppinger

That is absolute rubbish and it is the second time the Taoiseach has said it. It is a disgraceful comment.

The Taoiseach

We cannot deny that reality.