I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Obviously, regarding the retention or otherwise of rent pressure zones options are being provided to the Minister. Those options are under consideration. The Government is committed to the delivery of more affordable homes. Cost rental has a key part to play in that regard. We have seen a significant ramp-up in activity on the part of the Land Development Agency and the approved housing bodies through the cost rental equity loan scheme. We want to see the activation of the secure tenancy affordable rental, STAR, scheme a lot more by the private sector. It is not a case of either-or; we need to see private sector investment in our housing market. We also need to see State investment. The way it is presented by the Deputy all the time is that it is a case of either or. It is not; it is both. It is only by using all levers at the disposal of the State that we will tackle the challenges we have.

Sentiment score: 0.16

I thank the Deputy. Allocations have been made to local authorities in the last week in relation to housing adaptation grants. There has been significant change in grants following a review last year. The mobility aid grant has gone from €6,000 to €8,000, the housing aid for older persons grant has increased from €8,000 to €10,700 and the housing adaptation grant has gone from €30,000 to €40,000. I do not have the exact figure, but, from memory, I think that approximately €2.7 million in Exchequer funding was allocated to the local authority in Louth last week. I can get the exact figure for the Deputy. The Department is open to continued engagement with all local authorities. We have given further allocations in the past, but there will be significant uplift of upwards of 30% across many local authorities in light of the changes.

Sentiment score: 0.34