Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Another priority in terms of saving money is for the Department to secure better deals from landlords in regard to rents. That is best handled by the local authorities, which is why I am anxious to see the rent supplement scheme transferred to them. Community welfare officers, who are experts in this area, joined my Department's staff on 1 October. There is a committee of officials and people with expertise in the area between my Department and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. They are working closely together with a view to effecting the transfer of the scheme to the local authorities and initiating the new system in the new year.

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