Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Therefore, it has been confirmed in Galway and Kildare. Deputies are nodding in agreement. This is evidence that we need to move urgently to a harmonised and fair system. If the Minister of State said the level of flexibility would be specified and limited to a 1% or 2% variation, I could accept her argument that the transition is acceptable. This, however, is open-ended. She is proposing that there be wide scope for local authorities to increase rents significantly, depending on the financial pressures they are under. If that is the choice available to us, I suggest my proposal is the better solution.

Deputy Catherine Murphy has pointed out that in her consultations the Minister of State mentions the Department of Social Protection, her own Department and county managers. Where are the public representatives? Where are the representatives of NGOs dealing with housing issues on the front line? Where are the representatives of anti-poverty groups to consider these matters? They need to be involved in consultations.

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