Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

It is important this scheme follows rather than leads the market. There is a danger that the word will go out that the Department in subsidising 40% of the private rental market is subsidising landlords rather than tenants. I accept that unlike in times past a small number of landlords, who are owners of a second home rather than part of large operations, are in financial distress. That said, one cannot artificially inflate the market.

As I understand it, the Minister is saying - which seems reasonable - that the new rates come into effect from the review date or date of expiry of a lease and that in the event of failure to reach agreement with a landlord a tenant can involve a community welfare officer, which officers were seconded to the Minister's Department on 1 January last year and became civil servants in October.

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