Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

A person is then in a differential rent situation such that if he or she is taking up employment he or she can calculate if there is any additional rent to be paid. This is a vital distinction. I share Deputy Finan McGrath's view that notwithstanding the fact that we have made huge strides in reducing unemployment, we still have far too many people unemployed. One of the inhibitions with rent supplement is the restriction in terms of the amount of employment a person can take up. Those people living in housing provided by local authorities that are operating HAP are effectively in a differential rent situation and are free to take up employment and thus calculate any additional rent payable.

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