Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This may stray into housing policy and Mr. Moloney may not wish to comment, but has the Department examined the use of the HAP scheme? An issue that has come up many times at the committee is that the people who are procuring one of the largest amounts of spending, namely, HAP, are some of the most vulnerable people in Ireland. They are the procurement manager for their own rents, yet the State is spending millions in the private rental market with a resultant disproportionate impact. Has the Department examined the impact of HAP and the idea of who is procuring the service? In my experience, it is often the most vulnerable people - those who need housing - who are negotiating on behalf of the State, to put it that way.