Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The private landlords need to give value for money on their tenancies. I have advised Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh that in the past five years the country has spent €2.36 billion on rent supplement. That is a great deal of money in anybody's language. I share any concern the Deputy may have about any individual in distress, but the officials in the Department, community welfare officers, have been extremely careful to be diligent towards those who are renting and who may have special requirements.

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