Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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I wish to return to an issue on which Deputy McDonald touched. I am concerned that there is insufficient examination of rental properties where State money is paid to cover the rent. I was glad to hear the Secretary General say there was some sort of review group. It is important that robust proposals result from the process because substandard housing is a serious problem. One or two estates in my constituency have been seriously dragged down. In one estate 70% of the houses are rented out and some of them are in an appalling state, but most of the tenants receive rent supplement. I am appalled that our money goes towards renting substandard properties. Can the Secretary General do anything more to alleviate my fears about the damage caused in renting substandard housing?