Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, is working hard on this question. Some of the issues I examined regarding the scheme in my Department were not focused on the transfer issue, which is important, but on the scheme.

The Deputy mentioned the level of rent and dealing with that issue involved a considerable amount of time. I am happy that the level of rent reflects prices in the market. Determining the right level of rent is an issue when the rent subsidy scheme is such a big player in the market. I do not want to try to price anybody out of the market but I do not want to have unnatural subsidies for landlords as well.

Many issues arise here, some directly and exclusively related to the rent subsidy scheme. I want to discuss it with the various housing groups and following that if I consider it would beneficial to have further discussions with the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, I will do so. There is a need for joined-up Government thinking on this issue. We also have to examine issues relating to the rent subsidy scheme, having regard to the way differential rents are charged which are different from that pertaining to this scheme, to ensure that there are no disincentives to transferring.

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