Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The rent supplement was initially supposed to be a short-term panacea to address short-term homelessness. However, it would now appear to be the cornerstone of the Government's policy on social housing given that some 55,000 people have been on rent supplement for more than 18 months. The Minister stated that the Government had provided for just under €400 million and it cost €414 million last year. The State has spent billions of euro on this scheme. Last year the top 20 landlord recipients received €5 million between them. One character received €578,000 directly from the State in respect of 114 apartments. Has any thought been given to what the State is getting in return? In the first instance that money would be better spent on the provision of social housing. If that is not possible for some reason, then surely the State should be seeking to get something tangible back in return for the taxpayers' money that is being lavished into the coffers of private landlords.

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