Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not addressing Deputy Ó Broin directly. It is not all about him. I am just saying that I would ask those who have not read the report to do so. I am not satisfied with elements of the report submitted to me, to be very frank, as I said during the previous oral question session that we had. I do not believe that some of the recommendations within the report go far enough. We need to change the income eligibility limits. As Deputy Naughten rightly stated, it is over ten years since they were changed. To Deputy Ó Broin, I say that we do need that additional piece of research, because we need to be able to base the decision as to what the thresholds will be in different counties, whether we will have one threshold, two bands or whatever, on factual information. I have said already, and I do not want to repeat myself, that I intend to have that piece of work done through the Housing Agency, which has the expertise to do it. I am certain that all the Deputies here respect the work that the agency does. I will have that report before the end of the year. I will then bring forward proposed changes to the Government for approval. It is something that I earnestly want to do, but I have to do it in a structured way based on fact and I will do that. I know how important it is to people and I know that there are people who have been caught in the middle. I am also looking to see if there is anything we can do by way of transitionary measures while this work is taking place. It has been brought to my attention that there are some cases where people have gone over the threshold in the short term and have been removed from the local authority housing list. That is not something I want to see, particularly for a small change. I am earnest in my desire to make significant changes here that will be made subject to me receiving the report before the end of this year.

See this speech in context