Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their well-made points. The sole focus of this Department is to ensure that we provide secure accommodation that all our citizens can access equally.

We should always instil hope in people because there is hope. People who are on the margins can take consolation from the significant budget we have secured for the Department for 2021. As I have said, the Housing Agency is assessing all of this based on the new cost rental and affordable schemes due to be published shortly and the income eligibility review. On that basis, the agency will be able to ascertain what income can be disregarded in terms of various social welfare payments.

I fully accept the frustration expressed by Deputies that this review has been going on a while. However, we have moved considerably in the Department in recent months in terms of the new measures that have been brought in to ensure affordability. This has been put to the forefront of the Department. We also have to assess the review on that basis. It will be early next year. I can assure the House of that.

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