Scheme cost and applications
The Department set aside £10 million but could not estimate the scheme’s actual cost. The Minister outlined court cases processed and listed, including activity in Cork.
Could the Minister tell me the estimated cost to the State this year in implementing the scheme and the number of people who have applied under the scheme?
Comment on this
We cannot estimate the actual cost. We have put aside £10 million to meet any contingency in that area. We believe that that will be adequate to cover the amount. To date approximately 500 cases have been dealt with through the courts. That is at the rate of about 70 per week. A further 1,500 cases have been listed for hearing by the end of September.
For the rest of the country, rent cases are normally dealt with under District Court procedure and we have very few of them, except in Cork where about 40 cases a week are now being processed.