Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a few observations. A matter alluded to by several people is that it is becoming increasingly difficult and people are coming to us in absolute frustration because they cannot get an answer from the Department and they cannot get a person to speak to. They are using our offices to try to get an answer after they have submitted documents. It has got worse, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, for people trying to contact the Department.

Another matter that was alluded to is older people renting accommodation. There is an issue in respect of the housing assistance payment, HAP, and people using whatever limited funding they have to try to bridge the gap between HAP and the rent being charged, especially if they are in accommodation for two, three or four years, where the rent has increased by 4% but the HAP has not increased. People are supplementing the rent with their income, which is pushing them further into the poverty trap. The problem is that everyone knows this. Anyone who is involved with working with people on HAP knows that if the Department that processes the HAP had knowledge that people's income is at a certain level with respect to the rent, the HAP would be cut off. That means people would be pushed into homelessness, so people are paying the rent. There are adult children who are paying rent, supplementing the rent with their income. That needs to be looked at. We are seeing that the HAP is not keeping up with rents. It is not sufficient to pay the rent and people are supplementing it because the only alternative is for them to go onto the streets.