Marie Moloney (Labour)
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I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh. This was purely an administrative error by the Department and it should absorb that. It is grossly unfair, when Members and former Members of the Oireachtas owe money to the State but have not paid it, that this €20 will be deducted from those people's payments next month. It is grossly unfair that it can be taken from them. Will the Department absorb this on a once-off basis and ensure it does not happen again?

The Minister spoke about exceeding the cap for rent supplement. There is no comparison in the rent paid for a house in Killarney or one in Tralee. It is very expensive to rent a house in Killarney. People are finding it next to impossible to find accommodation at the social welfare rate. They are being driven out to the countryside where even there they cannot find accommodation. They have the problem of trying to get their children to school and getting into town or whatever.

It is another expense so the Minister must look at rent allowance by area, setting the cap according to local rents.