Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I accept there are other places in the Bill where these points could be made but I believe it is useful to insert them at this point in section 20. I have tabled amendments to further sections.

I note the Minister of State's point regarding the regulations provided for in subsection (6) providing for matters by reference to which a household's need for social housing support will be determined. However, subsection (4) is important and is perhaps key to the reality of life for people in households awaiting the allocation of housing. I note that social housing support has a broad definition in the Bill and therefore this will be a key provision for households that are awaiting supports or the allocation of housing. It would be useful to insert here, as I said, something with which nobody could have a fundamental disagreement. These are policy aims that everybody would support. The aim is to make these explicit in the provision giving the Minister the power to make regulations about how eligibility for social housing support will be determined. It is a crucial subsection for households that are awaiting supports because it gives the Minister the power to make the regulations providing for these criteria. Thus, it is important to include these criteria in the subsection. I will press the amendment.