The issue of rising rents across the country was raised earlier. In Sligo-Leitrim and many other parts of the country, people are on the housing list and directed to HAP to secure a house. I was talking to a person last week and I note that the cap for a single person is €350. That person cannot get anywhere for less than €450 to €500. In many cases, landlords are setting the rent barrier higher so that people who would avail of HAP cannot get into the rental market. Many of those who are on HAP find they have to pay that extra money through the back door to have accommodation and a place to live. As such, I ask the Minister to review the zones in which the HAP caps are in place.

I thank the Deputy for the question. We have approximately 20,000 landlords nationally who are engaging with HAP and taking HAP tenants into their accommodation. However, I recognise that in certain parts of the country HAP has not been as successful as it should have been. There is a 20% uplift which is allowed in most local authority areas. It is not being used in every case, nor does it have to be, thankfully. We are looking at certain issues around the HAP banding currently and I will come back to the House when I have a further update in that regard.