The programme for Government makes many commitments regarding dealing with the homelessness crisis and the provision of affordable housing. I have raised two instances of people in homeless emergency accommodation who have secured employment, which has put them over the relevant income thresholds, and who have then been threatened with being, or actually have been, put out of emergency homeless accommodation. I have now encountered a third family in that situation this week. Two people working are in homeless accom…

Will the Taoiseach instruct them on that?

Absolutely.

We have never sanctioned Israel.

That approach has not worked so far.

Working people and the least well-off in our country are being absolutely crucified by the rising cost of living. The cost of energy is going up and there are unaffordable rents and real pay cuts for people, with inflation running way ahead of the pay increases received. People Before Profit has been very clear. We think that there should be controls on the cost of energy and on rents and that workers are entitled to a pay rise. The minimum wage should be increased and workers should put in pay claims. The Taoiseac…

Energia saw its profits go up by 46% last year.

Why does the Taoiseach not ask those companies to pay for the cost-of-living crisis by giving workers a decent pay increase and by controlling the cost of living?

They are not working.

The average cost of retrofitting a house is approximately €53,000. It can be €70,000 or €80,000 for older houses to get them up to the highest building energy rating, BER. If someone is wealthy, the mooted changes in grants will benefit him or her. They might allow someone to cover the difference between €25,000 and €53,000 or more. However, the hardest hit by the energy price hikes will simply not have the money. The social housing retrofit programme is a joke. In my area last year, 1% of the social housing stock …

Why not?

Tax the profits of the energy companies.

Economic recovery means very little if you cannot put an affordable roof over your head. In my area, average rents are now €2,200 a month and average house prices are in excess of €600,000. If you are on HAP, you are goosed, because the most they will give you is €1,900. So, what are you supposed to do? I would like to know what the Taoiseach thinks I should say to people coming into my clinic who are saying they have no place to live and they cannot afford to pay those sorts of rents. Of course, social housing sho…

The council.

It is a Fianna Fáil-run council.

It is a Fianna Fáil-run council.

Fianna Fáil runs that one with the Green Party.

Fianna Fáil and the Green Party run that council.

We have not been opposing council developments.

Tell that to the low paid.