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

I move amendment No. 22:

In page 50, line 27, after “period” to insert “not less than 2 months”.

Should a local authority be unable to inspect a housing assistance payment property before agreeing a tenancy, it will be required do so not less than two months after the agreement. Rental accommodation standards have dropped significantly over time. Dublin City Council inspections of accommodation found that well over 90% of inner city flats failed to reach basic standards. HAP should not support landlords who are renting substandard accommodation. It might not always be possible to inspect prior to agreeing a tenancy but it should be done as soon as possible. Two months is a fair timescale for that.

See this speech in context