Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Minister of State. I welcome this because I see all the good work that is being done in Carlow daily.

I want to raise HAP. Previous speakers raised homelessness and just since January we have had 45 cases of homelessness in Carlow. The HAP rates are being reviewed at the moment, which I welcome, and seemingly we will have a decision on the changes to them in April. That is what the Department is telling me. I am meeting with Carlow County Council and if someone is homeless, it only has a 30% discretion to try to get them into HAP accommodation. If we could get to 50%, which some counties have, it would make a huge change. We have seven properties in Carlow at the moment and they are all averaging €1,400.

I am moving slightly away but we are now university town. We are delighted to be but student accommodation is the huge issue. Is there some development charges relief with such accommodation like we see with housing and Irish Water?

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