Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with some of the previous speakers. The ability to write off debt varies in local authorities. That is an important area because some people simply cannot afford to pay. Local authorities have added to the problem by allowing arrears to build up. If an authority has allowed arrears to build up, should it not be punished in some way or does the tenant have to pick up on the fact that the local authority did not cop on that someone was on the tenancy for which they were not being paid despite all the relevant information being put forward? We need to have codes of practice. I accept there are rules, and most local authorities are fairly reasonable, but I have found on occasion that the process is not working the way it should do. I support Deputy Broughan.

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