Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

On a point that I absolutely agree with, the commission says we should avoid cliff edges when it comes to welfare. One of the cliff edges that is at the centre of one of the biggest problems in the country at the moment is the fact that if a person is above a social housing income threshold, they get nothing in terms of support to put a roof over their head. If the threshold is now, say, €45,000 - it depends on the area - and the person is on €44,999, they can get HAP at least - they should get a council house but at least they get HAP to reduce their rent. However, if the person is on €51,000, they get zero, zilch, and they are in serious trouble.

That is not to say that people who get HAP are in a great position but they are in a slightly better one that someone who gets nothing at all, given the cost of accommodation. I would be interested in hearing the witnesses' comments on these points.