Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the reduction in the rent supplement budget from next April. Rents have fallen. There are, however, differentials within towns, particularly in Dublin and the other large cities. There are differences within estates and I would recommend that when the Minister introduces the reduction in rent supplement, she would allow discretion. Not every estate will have reduced rent, that is my experience in my constituency. People have come to my clinic telling me they cannot get a house or apartment for the rent the CWO would allocate. We must use discretion.

I welcome the new welfare fraud measures. This irritates many constituents, because they believe there is a lot welfare fraud, even though when they are asked for names and evidence, it is not always forthcoming.

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