Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The response that was formulated was driven by the Departments of Justice and Equality and Children and Youth Affairs, which are responsible for providing for the needs in question. Safe Ireland and the National Women's Council approached us in recent weeks to say that the supplement had not been working exactly how they had envisaged. They asked whether we could be the direct referral body and the Garda Síochána could be an authorised referrer. We have considered the matter for the past couple of days and looked at how we were dealing with people. People are entitled to make applications for rent supplement for themselves. They have been doing so. In fact, we have been providing emergency accommodation in bed and breakfasts for people until we get them their rent supplement.

I believe that the principal officer reverted to Safe Ireland today to indicate that the referrer could be the lady or gentlemen herself or himself. The Garda can refer to us, as can Tusla. We do not want to step on anyone's toes. Tusla and the local authorities are the established agencies to provide the people in question long-term resources and security, but we are not going to turn anyone away. Our rent supplement application form has been reduced from 28 pages to four. We are dealing with those people sensitively, compassionately and more quickly than we would with someone else. That is not to say that we are not dealing with everyone else quickly. We are, but the Deputy knows what I mean.

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