Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, too, extend my Christmas wishes to the Minister, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Deputy James Browne, and all the Houses of the Oireachtas staff, who have kept the wheels turning over the past year and do a fantastic job.

The increase in income thresholds is very welcome. I believe the levels should be greater than what is proposed. Inflation, which will continue, was mentioned. The thresholds have to be more flexible. We have called for an increase for years. For too long, workers and families have been penalised for getting slight pay rises into better paying jobs. I spoke to a number of employers this week who said they looked to increase staff wages but their employees said not to do that. It is very important we ensure that people get a fair reward for work that does not hinder their prospects of getting a new home.

It is always shocking to see the councils, as has been mentioned, being very rigid in removing people from the housing lists. People are then caught. They cannot afford to rent, certainly not in Dublin Bay South, where rents are exorbitant. I looked at Daft.ie earlier; it is €4,500 a month for a three-bedroom apartment in that location. When you think about it, it is daft that any family would have to pay that. People are then caught in limbo in low-standard accommodation. They are trying to rent, cannot get public housing and cannot afford to buy their own place. That is a huge issue.

I welcome the increase. It should be more. The retrospective period should be longer because people have come to me, and other colleagues, regarding that.

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