Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge there is a poverty trap in the rent assistance system which prevents people from going to work. Essentially, they are worse off where the entry level for employment is quite low. I can understand why it becomes an issue. There is no doubt, therefore, that this is a positive aspect of the legislation. However, the biggest negative is that people will be taken off housing waiting lists. I have encountered people who contacted the council because their landlords pulled out of RAS only to be told they had to source their own accommodation. That will be the experience with this Bill. The application of housing policy varies around the country depending on the local authority. The biggest fault line in this legislation is that a tenant is deemed to be adequately housed and will be forced to source his or her own accommodation if the lease concludes.

I have asked officials in my own local authority how they think this will play out. There is no transfer list in Kildare County Council. A tenant who is seeking a transfer is on the housing list. This will outsource housing to the private market and turn the housing authorities into housing support agencies. That is the biggest fault with this legislation.

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