Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not going to mention it. I am not criticising the local authority. The Minister must clarify what areas the funding is going to, what qualifies for the funding and under what scheme it is being provided. They are the biggest issues. I will bring that information back with me tomorrow. If the authority says it cannot buy a house, which will result in somebody being homeless, I will come back to the Minister. I am being nice about this.

Again, on the 20% discretion in the HAP, in the case of local authorities that do not qualify to be a rent pressure zone can the Minister consider giving them extra money given that rents have gone up? If he cannot include them in a rent pressure zone can he examine giving them an extra amount for the 20% discretion in the HAP? I know the Minister is changing the cap and I will hold him to that. He said the ceiling for qualifying to go on the local authority's housing waiting list will be changed. Ours is only €27,500 and in all our neighbouring authorities it is €33,000. That has to be changed. These are big, crucial issues that will prevent people from becoming homeless. They might seem small but they are massive.