Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

The Minister should reflect on the fact that the victims of this measure will be the tenants. I can state this because the situation has already arisen. I note the Minister quoted back the example of the plight of the lady in Wexford. Although she has been on all the housing websites and has contacted all the estate agents, landlords are not taking up the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, property arrangements because the limits that already exist are below the market rates at present. The Minister's measure will force that person out of the area in which she has fought so long. Were the Labour Party serious about making savings and taking landlords out of the net, a serious approach would be taken to the NAMA properties. The provision of 2,000 such properties in the context of 100,000 people on the waiting list is nothing but scratching the surface and is far too inadequate.

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