Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As Threshold is based in Dublin 7, Mr. Jordan will know that there are concerns on the part of the community about the massive influx of students and the effects it will have on it. I have also heard stories of landlords who have had tenants for a number of years in adequate accommodation. They are now telling them to leave because they are subdividing what was an adequate bedroom into two units for students. We may get students out of the main rental sector, but this will be an unintended consequence.

Mr. Jordan has said Threshold saved 8,550 people from becoming homeless. Will he explain how and whether it was all to do with increasing the rent supplement? We know that the supplement needs to be linked with the cost of living or the consumer price index, but how can it be balanced with the exorbitant rent increases some landlords are imposing? I have heard of unbelievable rent increases for people who live in extremely meagre accommodation. A part of me hates landlords getting that increase because they are not improving the accommodation provided.

There are tenants who are afraid to complain about the conditions in which they are living. They are afraid that ff they say something needs to be repaired or repainted, it will give the landlord an excuse to evict them.

In the context of our discussion on the rural resettlement scheme, is Threshold finding that there is an interest on the part of some Dublin tenants in moving outside Dublin?