Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I addressed this issue in the Dáil earlier today. If what the Deputy is alleging happened, it is illegal and a matter for the Garda. I have already attempted to make contact with Deputy Coppinger to get information about the case. My office is also contacting the Department of Justice and Equality to see how we might compile statistics or evidence in this area. As with any other issue, it is important to get the best information possible in order to know what policy responses might be needed. Such responses would not relate only to housing and would not fall to just this part of the Government because this is a wider criminal issue. A number of people are vulnerable because of the housing crisis. There is a housing shortage, which we are trying to address. People find themselves in incredibly difficult circumstances because of that. The case the Deputy has outlined is one example but there are also issues around families having to go into emergency accommodation or people being housed in substandard and dangerous accommodation. That is why we have brought forward rent reforms and are building tens of thousands more homes than we were previously. It is also why we have put better emergency supports in place for people who find themselves vulnerable at this time of crisis.

I would caution the Deputy on linking this allegation to something specific like the housing assistance payment, HAP, just because he received a few phone calls on the issue. HAP is working successfully for tens of thousands of people and if the payment were not in place, those people would be even more vulnerable because of the housing shortage. Comments from colleagues in the Deputy's party have served to undermine that support. HAP helps people so let us be very careful about the comments we make around this sensitive issue. Let us also ensure the help we are trying to give everyone suffering as a result of the housing crisis is directed in the best way possible to actually help them.