Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The Bill contains many valuable and necessary changes in regard to the organisation of social protection. The main provision in the Bill, the transfer from FÁS of employment and community services, is probably long overdue. The extent to which FÁS outgrew itself as an organisation and the loss of direction which resulted from that has meant that many of these changes are necessary. The better housing of these functions in the Department of Social Protection will benefit all those who need to access these services.

There are many innovations in this Bill. The budget of the Department of Social Protection is, of necessity, being reduced and, therefore, the need to innovate is essential. The use of electronic certification will help people access social welfare payments and will account for that in a better way than heretofore.

The changes to rent supplement are necessary. I have long argued in this House, and when I was a Member of the other one, that the concept of rent supplement has rarely achieved what it was meant to achieve. It is less about an assist to housing aid and is more about a subsidy to those who own property and make it available for social housing. In further reducing reliance on rent supplement, there is a need to introduce alternative methods. My preferred option has always been housing benefit rather than rent supplement whereby a payment is made directly to a social welfare recipient. The stigma of applying for housing through a rent supplement method is removed and the market performs more rationally in that people can negotiate without having to identify themselves as a social welfare recipient. That is a better method which exists in other jurisdictions. As we wean ourselves off a system which has not been as effective as it should have been, we can move towards a better and different way of doing things, and I believe the Minister is moving in this direction.

It shocked me to learn that the State is, in effect, the largest tenant by virtue of paying 40% of all rents.