Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 31:

In page 54, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:"(e) The Minister shall review the maximum amount of rent referred to in paragraph (b) every three months in each municipal district as defined under Part 3A of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended), and, where evidence compiled indicates that less than 10 per cent of available rental accommodation units may be accessed by an individual or a family receiving a payment under this Part, shall initiate a review of the effectiveness of the present maximum amount of rent for that area.".

This Bill seeks to limit the maximum amount available for the HAP, which could be seen as potentially problematic or dangerous, given the problems we currently face with rent supplement due to housing shortages and high rents, which do not seem likely to be resolved soon. Rents must be regularly reviewed throughout the State in order to understand what is available and needed as otherwise we are in danger of seeing people being put out of their homes due to rent hikes. This should in itself inform Government policy in a drive to address the shortage of publicly-owned social housing.