Ms Marguerite Ryan:

For an area to be designated as a rent pressure zone, rents must be high and rising quickly. The annual rate of inflation must be at least 7%. The rents are monitored closely by the Housing Agency and, following consultation with the local authority concerned, it may propose an area to the Minister. There is a process behind that. The Senator asked about the difference between rent supplement and HAP. She knows rent supplement has been replaced in the majority of cases for new applicants by the housing assistance payment. We cannot comment on rent supplement specifically because it is a matter for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. From our perspective, however, we see HAP as open, transparent and it is clear what a person is eligible for with respect to rent and limits for each household type. I am not sure about the Senator's comparison of the two. She mentioned rent supplement not being sufficient.