Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support these amendments, which are extremely reasonable. One of the concerns is that there will be for-profit actors who are required and motivated to maximise the return for their investors in this area and this model is designed for them to be inserted into it. That is a pity because it creates a conflicting tension. In that context, it is important that there be full transparency about how those rents are being calculated in a new review. A very short notice period would have a financial impact on people who have qualified for affordable housing and therefore do not have easy access to financing from the banks. They would have had to prove they do not have such access in order to get the affordable housing qualification in the first place. A two-week notice period would be very damaging for them. Aside from that, a two-week period is not a reasonable period for challenging that review, looking at the household index and questioning how this new amount was arrived at. A 90-day period would be in line with policy in other areas. I was rebuked by a member of the Government at one point for suggesting that affordable housing would be treated differently from other areas. Those in cost rental should expect the same basic provisions, protections and decency of notice as those in other forms of rental accommodation. Changing the period to 90 days would be an appropriate alignment with other areas and would allow people to make contact with the Residential Tenancies Board to seek advice and comparisons or, indeed, simply to get their finances in place. These are both very reasonable amendments. Amendment No. 27 relates to transparency and allows people to challenge or question a matter. Amendment No. 26 seems to be a basic provision to allow appropriate due process to be given.