Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In essence, the Deputy is correct that the HAP scheme as opposed to the rent supplement scheme has specific provision for the person who in many cases is on a fixed social welfare payment to find additional money over and above the differential rent and what is being paid by the local authority. Mr. McCarthy calls it flexibility or the exercise of choice, but the possibility of the person having to come up with funding is available under HAP but was not available under rent supplement. Does Mr. McCarthy not then see the point that the Deputy was referring to which was that Mr. McCarthy did not give a clear answer? He is clarifying it now.