Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

People in the system are going to court and their eviction cases are repeatedly adjourned, so they have that stress and worry. They could be perfect applicants for the mortgage-to-rent scheme, yet they might not qualify because of something silly like having an extra bedroom. The reality is different, however, because families can return home with grandchildren. We need to start thinking outside the box.

That brings me to the other point concerning voids. I am not talking about cases where major work must be done, but where minor works are due to be done. People might have the ability to do such work themselves with family and friends, so they can take the house as it is. Why can something like that not be examined? I am not referring to big works that would saddle someone with a large debt. If it will take a local authority a long time to turn over a house, the person involved should be allowed to do it. We could then come up with some agreement whereby they would have the first one or two months rent free. We should think of things like that which may not fit into any particular category or box, but they are common sense matters. People often say they will take the house and their family or friends can help them bring it up to a certain standard. Much of the time only minor works are required. We need to consider things like that, so I would like to hear the witnesses' opinions on them. How can we cut out some of the red tape involved, particularly given the way things are at the moment, in order to try to speed up the whole system?