In June, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, stated that local authorities could purchase housing assistance payment, HAP, properties where the tenants were under notice to quit. I subsequently asked Kerry County Council to use this measure for a number of constituents who had received such notices.

Some of these families went into hostel accommodation, having to throw out children’s toys and family memorabilia because there was no other solution. The Taoiseach said this morning that he has made clear to local authorities that the funding is there. However, as of today, officials in Kerry County Council are telling me that they have not received any directive and there is no chance that they will be able to buy any of those properties prior to Christmas. I am asking the Taoiseach to try to sort that out and get a directive out to them.

That is not accurate from what the Minister has said to me. The officials in Kerry County Council know they can buy houses where those houses are being sold with rental accommodation scheme, RAS, or HAP tenants in them.

They await a directive and have not got one.

No. That is a cop-out. I am not saying that is what they are saying. The Deputy put that forward. The facility is there. There needs to be proper engagement between the council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In fairness-----

Will the Taoiseach ensure that a directive goes out to them?

If other councils are doing it, it stands to reason that every council can do it. They have discretion.