Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I do not propose to accept this amendment, although I am cognisant that we should not have any barriers to people taking up employment opportunities. The current eligibility thresholds, income disregards and different arrangements in place do not act as an disincentive to taking up employment. It is important that even in cases where people qualify for rental accommodation scheme, they should continue to satisfy the criteria for rent supplement. Once they get onto the rental accommodation scheme, they are then placed on differential rent assessment. For the purposes of this particular scheme, which I shall continue to keep under review, I believe the eligibility criteria are sufficient.

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