Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will raise the issue of one-bedroom accommodation. In my constituency of Meath West I called the local authority yesterday on behalf of a woman who is on the housing list. She has Athboy, Trim and Navan down as her three preferences. Athboy is currently dealing with 2006 applicants, Trim is dealing with 2008 applicants and Navan is dealing with 2009. On top of that, the maximum housing assistance payment, HAP, for one-bedroom housing for single people or couples is €690. One will not get anything around Navan or Trim for less €1,000. The difference, therefore, is more than €300. The local authorities will not approve these agreements between tenants and landlords because of the difference in the HAP and what people have to pay. This means that many of these people end up in emergency accommodation, which costs the State and the local authority a lot more money. Will the Minister address the issue of one-bedroom accommodation? The HAP has not been updated since 2016. More than a quarter of the people who are on the local authority housing list in County Meath are waiting on one-bedroom accommodation.

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