Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I wish to come back on some of those points briefly. I have been told all year, having asked about the matter on numerous occasions, that the tenancy protection unit would be expanded. The Minister of State did not outline the additional powers in this that are not already available to the local authorities.

There is an element of the blame game going on in the context of local authorities not delivering. The Department is appearing to crack the whip. The Minister of State did not tell me how modular housing will have a limited lifespan or that it will not be a permanent solution for those tenants who avail of it.

I have spent the whole year dealing with families, negotiating increases in rent caps up to about €1,300 and more on some occasions. The problem is the HAP scheme is to be introduced in my local authority area and will make the situation worse because the amount we can negotiate will reduce. One can increase by 20% above the HAP rate, which is below market rents. So we will see a flood of additional homeless people because the HAP amounts are below market rents.