Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

This is an issue of joined-up thinking between the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the local authorities and the Department of Social Protection. Going by my experience, which is not specifically with direct provision, I would anticipate that this could become an issue for people who have got their status and are trying to exit direct provision and find rental accommodation, which is very difficult to find.

We should not let these demarcation lines be an obstacle. People have been told when they go to get rent allowance that the community welfare officer would like to give it to them but cannot unless they are on the list in that particular area, while the local authority is resistant. Sometimes we argue with them and can get there but sometimes we get resistance. Given the difficulty of the situation, we need joined-up thinking between the relevant Departments and flexibility across those administrative lines.