Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I presume, based on the Minister's comments, rent supplement and RAS have been identified as part of her Department's budget cuts under the spending review. Would the Minister agree transferring people from the rent supplement scheme to RAS is like moving the deck chairs on the Titanic?

Has any consideration being given to front-loading rent supplement to local authorities, along with asking the Minister for Finance or NAMA to transfer properties? Such a change would allow local authorities to get people off rent supplement and the RAS scheme, which would result in longer term savings. It would be a more sustainable review of spending than an overnight cut which has been contemplated.

See this speech in context