Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don mhéid atá ráite go dtí seo maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta i gcomhthéacs na hagóide atá ar súil taobh amuigh de Theach Laighean inniu. Tá an géarchéim tithíochta ag dul ó smacht ar fad. I concur with the thoughts expressed by Senators on the issue of housing. I commend those who organised the protest that is taking place outside Leinster House today. The nature of that protest is also commendable. Those involved are raising the issue in a positive way rather than doing so in another manner.

I am very concerned about reports in the media today about leaks of confidential information relating to the mother and baby home in Tuam. It is disgraceful and appalling that information about DNA sampling of human remains was leaked to newspapers and other media before the Minister, Deputy Zappone, had an opportunity to discuss it with survivors. I note that the Minister has apologised for this and has called on the Taoiseach to sanction an investigation into it. While I agree that there is an absolute need for an investigation, I do not think it should be allowed to drag on. I know from my contacts with survivors of these institutions that they are very frustrated about the slow pace at which the investigation is moving. We now have a delay of another year in the investigation. Many of these people are elderly or are not in the greatest of health. We have called on a number of occasions for a debate on this issue with the Minister. I think it is more important than ever for such a debate to be arranged. When she comes to the House early in the new year, she might bring with her the Department of the Taoiseach report on who leaked this information. How did it come to be leaked in such an insensitive way?

It is appalling that the survivors have had to hear about things like this through the media. We need a debate on this matter because it needs to be kept at the top of the agenda. I am aware that, correctly or incorrectly, there is a sense among survivors of similar scandals, such as the symphysiotomy scandal, that these matters tend to be kicked to touch. We do not want to see the can being kicked down the road while people get older and pass on. Justice must be seen to be done in the case of the mother and baby homes. A debate on this issue is important in the interests of getting clarity on it. Perhaps the Leader could give us an update from the Minister tomorrow. Is this investigation going to happen through the Department of the Taoiseach? Who is going to do it? Has any further information come to light regarding the circumstances in which this sensitive information came to be leaked in such an appalling manner?

I agree with previous speakers. We all support people who need houses. We do not want people to be homeless. We are all fighting to make sure no one is homeless. There should not be anyone in such a position. Everyone deserves a home. I say "well done" to those who are protesting outside Leinster House today.

The Minister for Justice and Equality came to this House last week to discuss an issue with Garda overtime which has since been addressed and sorted. During the debate he said he has recruited 800 gardaí so far this year, but he did not give the names of the Garda stations to which they have been deployed. This is an important aspect of the matter, given that elderly people in my home county of Carlow are nervous because the evenings are dark. It is important to have a Garda presence in cities and rural towns and villages. The presence of gardaí inside and outside our towns makes people feel safe. Can we have clarification on the Garda stations to which the 800 recruits were deployed? The Government previously committed to the reopening of Leighlinbridge Garda station in County Carlow. We need to get clarification on that in the context of the cutbacks that are still having an effect. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, to address these issues when he comes to the House.