Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

It is not often I have the Chamber to myself and the Minister of State. The issue I wish to raise is one about which I have been concerned for a long time, namely, local authority tenants having difficulties with rents. Many of these tenants may be poor at financial management. Local authorities are stretched in regard to the need for cost efficiencies and managing resources. I am proposing and hoping that the Government will help local authorities and tenants in a very practical way. I am proposing that where there are issues in regard to the collection and payment of rents for social housing by tenants, a system of deducting rents at source be introduced. This would have great benefits in that it would assist those who are poor at budgeting and money management to ensure that at least their rent is paid on time. Second, such an arrangement would ensure that the finances of the various local authorities throughout the country are protected and that when somebody falls into arrears, there is a strategy that can be adopted. Third, it would ensure a reduction in man hours in terms of collecting rents. Fourth, while most people who fall into arrears are genuine, there is a cohort who simply do not want to pay rent. Such abuses of the system are taking place in Clare, as I am sure they are in Sligo, Kerry and everywhere else. The arrangement I have proposed would deal with this problem. The Clare county manager told me recently that some tenants have put it to him that they will continue not to pay their rent safe in the knowledge that the council's only recourse is to put them out on the side of the road and thus create further social difficulties. These people know their local authority will not do that.

The most practical and sensible solution to this problem is a system whereby people experiencing difficulties in meeting their rent payments, whether as a consequence of poor money management, limited resources or whatever, will have their rent deducted at source. Paying rent is part of one's responsibility as a local authority tenant. Even in these tough times we should bear in mind that local authority rents are assessed as a proportion of income, usually at something like 27%. There are bad apples in the system and others who get into difficulty through no fault of their own. It is incumbent on us to assist those who have difficulties with money management in order to ensure they at least have a roof over their head.