John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Not a week goes by in my advice centre that I do not deal with someone looking for rent allowance. I am the only Deputy operating out of Waterford city so I know what I am speaking about. It is not five to ten days. I do not know where the Minister gets those facts and figures.

The stark reality being presented to many with whom I deal is a damp, dark bedsit with shared toilet facilities because this Government reduced rent allowance over recent years. It is impoverishing very vulnerable people who have no hope of getting a house on the local authority housing list for years and have no choice but to apply for rent allowance. Many of them have children and are coming out of vulnerable situations themselves. Landlords are dramatically increasing rent. The Minister reduced the amount for applicants which leaves all these vulnerable people with nowhere to go.

It is not the case that someone who applies for rent allowance will be five or six days without being housed, which means being put into rented accommodation. Many people in desperate situations are being victimised by landlords providing poor conditions because of the cuts in rent allowance. I contradict what the Minister says about the five day waiting list. I deal with social welfare officers in Waterford every day of the week.

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