Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of prescribing the appropriate period in regulation, as opposed to primary legislation, is to allow if needed for flexibility to change the period set if it becomes impractical. I am of the view that two refusals, the current general rule, is a reasonable number so as not to disadvantage other households on the waiting list from being offered available accommodation by the housing authority, where a household with higher priority continues to refuse reasonable offers of accommodation.

It should be remembered that a reasonable offer from a housing authority must be in the household's area of choice and must meet their housing needs. It is important that people realise this. It is difficult to see how a household could reasonably refuse an offer that meets both of these criteria. I therefore remain of the view that two refusals of reasonable offers of accommodation by a household maintains the appropriate balance required. Notwithstanding this, what the Senator proposes would make any review or amendment of this time period more difficult as it would require an amendment of primary legislation each time. This, as I have said, is impractical. In that context I would ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment.