Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, the HAP is dealt with by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. I understand there has been flexibility under that scheme regarding the homeless. I may be wrong and will ask the Minister to contact the Deputy about it. The Minister is to bring proposals on rent certainty to the Cabinet before the end of the session. The figures I mentioned refer to the 2,100 cases in which the cap was broken, of which more than 1,400 were in the Dublin area, reflecting the position in the rental market. Neither of us intends to put money into landlords' pockets. I am not certain, however, that the Deputy's proposal to increase the cap by 5% would create even one additional unit. I have met local councillors from around the country and they have given me example after example of areas in which there is no accommodation available. In such areas, even if I were to increase the cap by €1,000, it would not generate even one additional unit. There is an acute supply problem. We are in constant communication with our staff to ensure they exercise flexibility and discretion to ensure, where possible, people do not become homeless.

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