We heard this morning that the rents in this city were at boom-time level even though the rent supplement was out of touch with the rents being demanded, that is, some €300 less than the average rent for an apartment and €400 less than the average rent for a house. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, promised action on radio this morning, yet the legislative programme that was published yesterday and which I have perused contains nothing in that regard. Will the Minister pursue legislation on rent controls or rent freezes, which was what he mentioned? For four and a half years, the Government has discussed making changes, yet the rent supplement budget has been cut by €200 million in that time and the mortgage interest supplement budget has been cut from €77 million to €12 million. What legislative action will be taken to address a crisis that is going through the roof? Many people do not even have a roof for it to go through.

I welcome two Bills on the legislative programme, as I have been asking for them for months. However, they still have the same status. It is not possible to indicate when No. 100, the national children's hospital establishment Bill, will be published. It first appeared on the legislative programme in 2013. The other Bill is probably in line with what the Minister discussed a moment ago, namely, the digital hub Bill, which the Government announced with a great deal of fanfare would address a large number of quangos. It has been on the programme since 2011, but it is in the section about which it is not possible to indicate when Bills will be published. Despite that, it is still operating. Another Minister, Deputy White, opened a new development in that regard last week. That is welcome, but certainty is required. Will the Minister ensure that this Bill is moved from section C to section B so that it can be passed before the dissolution of the Dáil?

I thank the Deputy for his question. I assure him that the Government is actively considering housing initiatives. The Cabinet committee met this week and initiatives are being developed. Any such initiative will appear before the House in the normal way. Those issues will not be on the legislative programme until they are agreed by the Government and moved to drafting stage. That is the normal approach to the legislative programme.

I understand that a planning application regarding the children's hospital was submitted on 10 August. A great deal of work has been done to get it to this point. The drafting of the legislative requirement is ongoing and is on track for publication in 2015, in accordance with the Minister's priorities. The practical implementation of the legislation has been initiated with the submission of a planning application.

The digital hub Bill is for next year. I will bring to the attention of the Minister the Deputy's concern about its priority, but it is still in section C.