Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Additional needs payment applications for assistance with deposits and rents are now being dealt with in the centralised office in Dublin. I am hearing the applications are taking weeks, if not months, to be processed. I have been contacted by a tenancy sustainment and support officer who works with people who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. They are referred by the local authority to this person, who helps them get viewings of properties. Most are on social welfare and do not have the means to save for the deposit and first month’s rent. Cavan County Council does not operate a homeless HAP system so they have no option but to apply for the additional needs payment to cover these costs.

It results in a catch-22 situation because if they get a viewing at the property, which is very difficult in the current climate, they cannot afford the deposit and first month's rent. There is no assistance available, they apply for the additional needs payment, it is taking too long, the landlord gives the property to somebody with money readily available and they miss out. This is happening constantly. Something needs to be done to address it. We have a homeless crisis and it will get worse. I am talking about a city or large urban centre in Cavan.

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