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

I assure both Deputies that this is being treated with the most urgency within the Department. The Minister has been engaging with other Departments, as well, to try to finalise an approach that will ensure the most vulnerable in society are protected. That is our modus operandiin trying to get these regulations right. There are three bands throughout the network of 31 local authorities which, obviously, need to be reformed. That is key. We can see that from meeting constituents, in terms of the problems that have been referenced here, who either have an increase in terms of income and, unfortunately, fall off the list and are faced with very difficult circumstances. We want to protect people who are faced with those decisions and ensure that they have options. That is why we are balancing it with the record investment in housing through Housing for All, in terms of that significant increase in housing supply into the State. I assure everyone that this is being treated with the utmost urgency.

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