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

I refer to the case of Tom and Maria Browne of Delvin, County Westmeath. Tom is 85 years old. He is a retired member of the Defence Forces and has had two strokes. His wife Maria is 73, has diabetes and is his main carer. They have rented the same house in Delvin for the past 11 years. Recently, they were served with a notice to quit. They currently pay rent of €700 a month. The most they could pay is €1,000 per month. They do not have a hope of getting accommodation anywhere else for that amount. They applied to Westmeath Country Council to go on the housing list and HAP, but they are a couple of thousand euro over the limit for that. There are no social, affordable, or cost-rental houses in the area. The couple have never received help with their rent, have never defaulted on their rent and have good references. Maria has been so stressed that she has not been sleeping or eating properly and her doctor has prescribed tablets for ten days to help her relax. I can only imagine how they feel at the thought of being homeless. They could be anybody's parents. What help is this Government going to give Tom and Maria? Where will they go?

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