Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That arrangement is not trickling down to local community welfare officers, as I am sure any Member of the House can confirm to the Tánaiste. Unfortunately increasing numbers of people in the depths of despair are presenting to my constituency office because they are being forced out of their private rented accommodation. I agree that raising rent supplement caps does not represent a long-term solution. The long-term solution is for the State to provide local authority housing to those who are unable to purchase their own homes. That cannot be done if the Government continues to cut capital budgets to local authorities. It cannot be done if the Government refuses to give local authorities the necessary funding to refurbish the thousands of homes that lie idle and which should generate income for local authorities.

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