Last week, I raised with the Tánaiste the deepening crisis as a result of cuts in the rent allowance, which has seen more families being made homeless or threatened with homelessness. In that context, when will we discuss the housing Bill on the legislative programme? Despite asking several times, we have been given no specific timeline for when that Bill will be discussed. Given the serious crisis of homelessness or threatened homelessness for thousands of families across the country-----

There is no need for the Deputy to expand on the point.

-----can the Taoiseach say when the Bill will be introduced? Can he accelerate the process so we get a chance to discuss this most serious issue?

I cannot tell the Deputy when it will be discussed because the heads of the Bill are due for approval later this year. We will try to expedite it but I cannot give the Deputy an answer to his question about a specific date.