My question is for the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy English, and regards the report on mica in defective blocks in County Donegal. The report was laid before the House six months ago. The Minister of State visited Donegal and at the time he committed to looking into ensuring social housing options would be available for those who must move out of homes that have been exceptionally badly affected. He also committed to going back to the county to update the mica action group on progress before the end of the year. Will the Minister do so and update the House on the issue?

I should be in a position to update the House before the end of the year. The expert panel is progressing well in terms of technical issues and regulations 1 and 2.

As regards those who are in an unsafe house, once they prove they are entitled to go on the social housing list, local authorities can accommodate them. A number of people made applications but did not qualify for various reasons I cannot reveal because of data protection concerns. However, the council has been asked to contact those people and give them specific information on why they did not qualify. If somebody is in an unsafe house in which he or she cannot live and satisfies the means test, he or she can apply for social housing and will be helped by any local authority. I want to be very clear on that. We will engage directly on the report before the end of the year.