Mr. Pat Daly:

I wish to respond to Deputy Butler who raised the issue of the HAP scheme. The average rent in County Clare is about €650 per month and, possibly, €1,200 in Dublin. The average payment is about €400 which is not enough because these people are on social welfare. They get about €400 but their shortfall is €70 per week. The Minister with responsibility for housing, Deputy Coveney, should get a bigger budget which would allow him to increase the HAP assistance because it is not enough. Councillors meet people every day who are on HAP schemes but they just cannot pay.