Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

The Deputy is quite correct when he says that the local authorities will be responsible for the housing assistance payment. They are in a better position than us to deal with housing provision in this space. The expectation is that we will continue to work very closely with the local authorities, regardless of whether the client is receiving rent supplement on a short-term basis or with the prospect of moving onto the housing assistance payment. We do not see ourselves as exiting from this space. We see ourselves as having a role to play. We will certainly be looking to have stronger links with the local authorities.