Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

One in five HAP tenants in Clare is in receipt of the higher discretionary rate of payment. I do not know what it is in other constituencies but I imagine it is similar, if not higher. It is a clear indication there is a need, whether it is wanted or not, to increase and index the payment. I understand there was a concern with setting too high a floor on rents in the private rental market but HAP is now so far away from market rates that it is loading the weight of the housing crisis in the private rental sector onto the shoulders of our most vulnerable. This is completely unacceptable.

Will the Minister of State extend the scope of HAP to provide a potential tenant with the deposit for the rental agreement, with a view that the money would go back to the Government when the tenant receives the deposit back at the end of the tenancy? I have received a number of distressing calls where people have said they cannot afford the rent for the properties on daft.ieso they cannot even apply, and they are really struggling to get the deposit and are taking out loans to do so.

See this speech in context