Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

They do in the case of mortgages. We are looking it as an option and, again, it is to do with value for money. I want to ensure we target these grants as well as we can. They are of great assistance, particularly for those who otherwise might be forced to go into a nursing home and would not be able to go back to their own home. Socially and economically, it makes complete sense to have the moneys spent as well as possible.

Deputy Paudie Coffey asked about the housing assistance payment, HAP, and rent supplement and about thinking outside the box. We are open to any proposal as to how we might better provide housing. The Department has refurbishment schemes, for example. Recently, I announced under a stimulus package as part of which the Department would be providing €50 million over three years for the retrofitting of the least energy-efficient local authority houses. The Chairman also raised that issue and referred to the reallocation of local authority housing, citing cases in Dunmanway, west Cork, in particular. Recently, I received a table indicating the length of time it took to reallocate in local authorities. There are significant variations between them. That is an issue about which we want to talk to them in more detail. We want to know why houses in some local authorities can be left for a year before they are reallocated when the average waiting time is ten weeks in others. We need to ensure they reallocate as quickly as possible.