The Minister stated that for the most part health boards decide whether an applicant for rent supplement is in need of accommodation without reference to the local authority. In my local authority in north Tipperary this has not been the case for a number of years. The rent allowance is linked to the application for local authority housing. To my knowledge those who apply for rent allowance must be on the housing list. Senator McCarthy has confirmed the same is true in west Cork. It is clearly the case that people will not get the allowance without being an accepted applicant for housing.