Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I agree with much of what Deputy Gould said. I begin by complimenting the Sue Ryder Foundation on everything it is doing to provide practical support and day-to-day assistance. As Deputy Flaherty mentioned, combating social isolation is really important. The previous discussion dealt with the point I was going to make relating to rental income from houses belonging to those availing of the fair deal scheme. I know we have heard from Age Action Ireland the perspective that at the moment nothing is being taken by the Exchequer on this and homes are instead lying idle. Should we look at 100% going to the person whose home it is?

We have heard a very different perspective from Alone. Obviously, the representatives of Age Action Ireland are also talking about safeguards, which I fully agree need to be in place. Mr. Moynihan from Alone raised other concerns, including concerns he has raised directly with me prior to this meeting, not just about safeguarding but also about the additional expenditure incurred for solicitors, auctioneers or estate agents. There is also the issue of security of tenure. Up to 50% of houses would need to be upgraded to meet the current standards and regulations in order to bring them back to supply, a matter we discussed in the first session today.

Even if the figure is as low as 4,000 units, those are 4,000 families we could help by unlocking these homes. I would be on the side of what the representatives of Age Action Ireland said about increasing that figure as much as possible so that the rental income is being seen by the person in care. I know the proposed 40% rate is not quite there, but it is a doubling of what is currently available and a step worth taking. I would be interested in hearing the two different perspectives. I know they both come from the same place, which is safeguarding older people and helping to resolve the housing crisis. I would like to hear those different perspectives from Alone and Age Action Ireland, elaborating on the pros and cons of homes of people in the fair deal scheme.