Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have drawn the attention of the Minister of State to the local authority housing waiting list. Some six local authority areas make up 50% of the waiting list, which accounts for 90,000 individuals or families. The areas are Dublin city, Cork city, south Dublin, Fingal, Kildare and Cork county. At the same time, rents in those areas are some of the highest in the country. The rent assistance being provided is below market rent and, between that and the administrative difficulties in getting rent assistance, if there is a choice a landlord can make about who to take, the people on the waiting list dependent on rent assistance are on a hiding to nothing in an environment where there is a shortage of houses to rent.

I accept the Minister of State is answering the question in respect of methodology but I am not interested in collecting statistics. I am interested in solutions for people who come into my office and offices in the areas where there is a crisis. People must take children out of schools and try to find inadequate accommodation somewhere else. There is a crisis in some parts of the country and an urgent response is needed.

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