Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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On the question of HAP, perhaps I did not explain what I wanted to know. I know that one can make a special case, and that will be taken into account.

The midlands rent unit is gone. We always had what was called rent allowance, but it has gone back to the local Intreo social welfare office. However, trying to get the first time payment now can be an issue. Everybody is entitled to one first time payment for a local deposit if one is renting a house for the first time. It is an issue in that sense. If one is not on the local authority housing list at present, one does not qualify for rent allowance unless one has an exceptional need. Originally, when one applied for rent allowance one could get it without a problem. Now, however, the first question one will be asked is whether one is on the local authority housing list. If one is not, it is very hard to get rent allowance. In my area it has gone back to the Intreo social welfare office in Carlow and I find that I talk to that office three or four times a day, which is an issue. These issues are getting worse as they are moved from one area to another.

I have another question about pillar 3 on buying houses. What is the plan for buying houses into the future? Clúid Housing, Respond! Housing Association and Co-operative Housing Ireland play a massive part in local authorities, but they have not been mentioned once here. These are areas where I believe we are falling down. Clúid Housing and Respond! Housing Association have been building and buying houses, while Co-operative Housing Ireland has got very big again. I noticed that it was not there for a few years but it is now back on trend. What role do we play with local authorities and these associations? There is the issue that people cannot buy them out, but if they are building and buying we will happily take them.

Under Pillar 3, there is €226 million for 34 projects in 15 local authorities across the country whereby 23,000 new homes will be built by 2021. That is unacceptable. Who decides the 15 local authorities? There are 31 local authorities so there is something missing for certain local authorities. They are not getting the chance they should get.

Perhaps the Minister would clarify those matters.