This week, we heard the heartbreaking personal testimony of Micheline Walsh and her husband, Richard. They are in their late 70s, have been overholding for more than a month following an eviction notice and currently have nowhere to go. Micheline was not just highlighting her own case but those of the many older people who are at risk of homelessness and the hundreds of people over 65 who are currently in emergency accommodation. The Minister has said the State has a good record of treating older people with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, since this Government took office, the number of people over the age of 65 in emergency accommodation has increased by a staggering 43%. Today, ALONE and Threshold are publishing a report highlighting the growing number of older people living in expensive and insecure private rental accommodation, many of whom are now at risk of homelessness. This harsh reality is a direct result of the Government's overreliance on the private rental sector to meet social and affordable housing need. Will the Minister outline what the Government will do to end the scandal of older people in emergency accommodation and to give people in the autumn of their lives secure and affordable accommodation?

What we are going to do is build more homes. We are going to place an emphasis on age-friendly accommodation because we recognise the clear demographic trends and that there is going to be a requirement for the State to deliver public housing for older people at scale over the coming years. In the interim, the housing assistance payment and other supports will continue to be available.

We will work through the individual cases that arise where eviction notices are served on older people. We recognise the enormous anxiety and stress that can cause, especially for older people. That is why the State, our local authorities and our approved housing bodies will work on solutions in those individual cases. Fundamentally, however, it is about building more age-friendly accommodation for our growing older population.