Disability groups lobbied overnight on two occasions last week outside the Taoiseach’s office and Leinster House. They were asking that payments be made to them directly rather than through corporate bodies. We have discussed, at the instigation of Senator Colm Burke, the position of section 39 bodies. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the possibility of directing finances directly at disabled people in keeping with what they were seeking last week.

I second Senator John Crown’s motion that No. 15 be taken before No. 1.

I call for a debate on housing costs which have moved out of line, from 2.5 times to as much as 12 times average income. There are decisions to be made about the future of the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, empty sites and ghost estates around the country. We need to debate the problem the banking inquiry committee encountered that short-term finance was being used to fund the purchase of long-term assets such as housing. Will the Leader arrange a debate this term on housing?

In August, unfortunately, several workers died in public service. On 13 August Mr. Padraig Noone was killed while fixing hedges near Castlebaldwin on behalf of Sligo County Council. He was described as a gentle soul and a much loved father. On 31 August, at Thomond Bridge, two public service workers were killed while repairing the bridge which has such historic connotations. They were Mr. T. J. Herlihy from Castleisland and Mr. Bryan Whelan from O’Brien’s Bridge, both of whom were described as family men. The people mentioned went to work on 13 and 31 August to serve our society and we owe their relatives our sympathy. We owe them our appreciation as individuals who served this society so well every day.

I add my voice to those who have wished our colleague, Senator Jimmy Harte, a happy and successful retirement. All of us in this Chamber had hoped to see him back among us before the House rose for the last time. Like me, he is a graduate of University College Dublin, UCD. We all know that he is a man with a very strong moral compass and with a very strong voice when it comes to supporting the national soccer team. I wish him the absolute best.

I thank Senator Katherine Zappone for her words about the first annual report of the Threshold Dublin tenancy protection service. In the first year of its operation the service was responsible for preventing 2,808 people, including over 1,600 children, from entering homeless services. I, therefore, support the call for a debate on housing generally because the issue of housing supply is critical but also on the ongoing problem of homelessness, the level of which continues to rise at an enormous rate. The report contains many recommendations, one of which needs to be acted on immediately, that the service be extended beyond the Dublin region. The problem of homelessness extends beyond the Dublin region. The service is also open in Cork and we hope to be able to open it in Galway. However, many areas surrounding large urban centres are also suffering significantly as a result of significant rent increases. I ask the Leader to arrange a serious debate on homelessness in early course.