Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While I appreciate it is not in place in the Deputy's area, it is being rolled out in tranches of six or seven local authorities at a time. It will be a nationwide scheme once it has been rolled out to the remaining local authorities.

The rent supplement is essentially a short-term payment for people who need it. It was never intended to be a long-term support. The Deputy dismisses the housing assistance payment because the scheme is not available in his local area. The HAP is part of the strategy the Government is pursuing and we want to introduce it in the Deputy's local authority area. It will have the additional benefit of ensuring people continue to receive support from the State, even when they secure full-time employment. The measures the Government has taken to help sustain tenancies and keep people in their homes should be acknowledged. Tenants cannot be evicted at the whim of a landlord, as the Deputy suggested.

See this speech in context