John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A considerable number of issues were raised. Time is somewhat against us. Deputy Brendan Ryan set out a series of questions. If Ms Faughnan has not got them, we can forward her the details. If she could respond to them through correspondence, it would be very useful from the committee's point of view. She does not have to respond on the point being made by Threshold now but may do so in correspondence.

Let us consider the circumstances where two prospective tenants approach a landlord and one has cash in hand to pay the deposit and the first month's rent, while the other is dependent on State support. In the latter case the landlord is not sure when he or she will receive payment. The applicant probably has to obtain a tax clearance certificate before becoming eligible, in addition to an energy rating certificate, etc. At that point, one is not sure about the rate of assistance, depending on the State support programme in question, be it rent supplement, a housing assistance payment or a payment through the RAS. From the landlord's point of view, the prospective tenant who is not dependent on State support seems to present a better, quicker and easier option.

The Department has overarching control over some of this. What proposals or recommendations would it make to level the playing field such that when a landlord considers the two options, they will be deemed to be of equal value? If this were addressed, the landlord would not face considerably more paperwork and administrative effort to claim one over the other. If Ms Faughnan cannot answer my question now, she might do so in the correspondence to be sent to the committee in responding to Deputy Brendan Ryan's questions. I invite her to also address the other issues raised.