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

I do not think HAP is working. It only allows an increase of 20%, and that is as far as it goes, across the board. To take an area like my own, Carlow is not in a rent pressure zone although all areas should be in a rent pressure zone at this stage, Carlow in particular, given two neighbouring counties are in a rent pressure zone, which is very unfair. What way do the witnesses believe we should go with this? While the 20% discretion is there, should there be a clause for, say, medical issues or hardship? Would the witnesses recommend that?

I believe local authority mortgages are the way forward. Local authorities could do a really good job of giving mortgages but, again, the problem is there is no timescale and people who apply have to wait six to eight months. Do the witnesses believe this should be no more than four to six months, and if people get it, they get it, and if they do not, they do not? I could ask many more questions but I will come back in later.