Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. It was useful and informative to read their reports in advance and to get their breakdown. My experience of families availing of HAP is in line with that of many of the witnesses' surveyed participants. The report states 75% of those surveyed were happy with HAP. It is great to read about the level of relief among participants on being able to afford the rent. This came across strongly. Ms O'Reilly has just alluded to this. It shows the real benefit of HAP in real people's lives.

My experience, having spent ten years as a county councillor on South Dublin County Council, is that landlords, and often estate agents, still discriminate against HAP tenants. It is a really serious problem. It is now being tackled through a legal instrument, but that has not seemed to create the cultural change we need. I would welcome the recommendations of the witnesses on further actions that could be taken to make it easier for HAP tenants to find rental accommodation as they start that process.

Senator Fitzpatrick referred to the impact of Covid. According to the most recent report published by daft.ie, there are now twice as many rental properties available in Dublin as there were at this time last year. I hope that has made it easier for people of all backgrounds and on various subsidies to be able to access rental accommodation. Do the witnesses have further figures relating to the impact of Covid on HAP tenancies? I would be interested to know more about the increase in HAP tenancies during Covid-19 and the impact reduction of income has had on those tenants. Obviously, extra supports have been made available to people who have lost income or had their income reduced as a result of Covid. Has that assistance provided by the State been effective?

Mr. McCafferty noted that when the income of HAP tenants increases, their rent contribution increases too. Does he find that that happens in practice? My understanding is that it is not an automated process and it relies on people self-declaring an increase in their income. Is that happening on the ground?

Ms Stakem spoke about the wider housing problems. I reiterate that all present are very much committed to resolving those wider issues. We get that this is a piece of that puzzle. Security of tenure, which she mentioned in terms of long-term leases, is critical not just for HAP tenants, but also for private tenancies and those availing of rent supplement.

I agree with many of the remarks of Ms O'Reilly around streamlining the process in terms of the application, as well as increasing it. I also agree with her on the issue of paying rent from the day a rental agreement comes into effect. She referred to a root-and-branch reform or review of the HAP system. I am not hesitant to do that, but if we have recommendations that we believe would reap benefits, that is something we could look to pursue now, rather than wait until another report is prepared. I believe that would be kicking the can down the road. I am anxious to see what we can do currently to improve the situation.