David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

What is the point in transferring all this money when it is not being used? The Department obviously has a huge surplus considering that just €8 million of the €63 million allocated has been spent to date. What is the rationale for this? Is the Minister serious about the target of accommodating 10,000 by the end of this year considering that only 3,000 have been accommodated so far, bearing in mind that we are almost half way through the year? It appears the money is going to the private rental sector. Therefore, the benefit is rent supplement by another name. This seems to imply a failure on the part of the State to provide social housing. It is a very expensive Band-Aid to cover up the problem.

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