Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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I thank all our guests for attending, for providing their statements in advance and for the ongoing work they all do. This is a very challenging sector of which we are all acutely aware.

I have some questions about the proposals and suggestions made by Threshold, the first of which relates to renters, to giving them more support and to the reintroduction of the tax relief for them, something we have been arguing for as a party. Is it proposed that this would be applied regardless of income? Is it tax relief across the board and do our guests have any idea as to what the costs would be?

On the proposal to establish a €20 million rent arrears fund, how would that be administered and who would administer it? Again, would it be open to all renters or just to those in receipt of rental supports? Ms O’Reilly mentioned looking for changes in the arrears legislation. What changes is Threshold proposing in that regard? She acknowledged the increases in the HAP rates, and while the homeless HAP rates are certainly helping in some instances, it is an incredibly challenging situation. As Mr. Davitt described, it is really difficult for people on the coalface. By how much would it be increased and would that be in addition to, and over and above, the homeless HAP rates?

Threshold has also suggested further funding the homelessness prevention budget by 20%. What exactly would that fund be used for? Would it go into homeless HAP payments, into paying for more private emergency accommodation, into local authorities purchasing housing with in situtenants or, potentially, into providing long-term leasing? How do our guests foresee that approximately €40 million being used?

On reducing the capital gains tax for landlords, what has been Threshold's experience in respect of the tenant in situoption that is available? I also would be interested in the property representatives' views in this regard. Where a tenant is in situ, the landlord is selling and the local authority has permission to purchase the property, is that not working? Is the landlord not already getting the benefit of a certain sale at the market rate without any of the costs of sale, advertising or commissions or of having to invest in the property to present it to the market?

I apologise for the number of questions but this is an important discussion.