Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Every day is a learning day. What I have learned today is that in order to incentivise people to bring properties up to a good standard, the taxation system for retrofitting needs to change. An incentive should be put in place in order that people will invest in properties that are of a poor standard and bring them up to a good standard.

Another problem is that many landlords in areas where houses are of a poor standard are not registered with the rental authorities and will not accept HAP. Tenants have no other option because there are no other rental properties available in the area. They are living in poor conditions because there are no incentives for landlords to do up a property or go on the HAP system. If the landlord had a good property, he or she would go on the HAP system and create a new place to live. Many properties that are in poor condition are let by people who do not take HAP. People have no other option.