Jackie and her husband are a lovely couple in their 50s. He has worked all his life for a semi-State company. Tomorrow morning, I will be accompanying them and their two children to the District Court where their landlord is seeking enforcement proceedings to evict them from the home in which they have lived all their lives. Because they are over the threshold, they are not entitled to social housing and are not entitled to housing assistance payment, HAP. They are absolutely goosed. They need hope. At the moment the local authority is saying that the tenant in situ scheme does not apply because they are over the threshold. They cannot get HAP because they are over the threshold but they cannot even come close to affording the rents being charged in their area. As I am very worried about their welfare, I am making an urgent last-minute appeal for the Government to instruct local authorities that the tenant in situ purchase scheme will apply to people, even if they are over the threshold, where they are threatened with homelessness. At the very least they should be entitled to HAP so they can try to source alternative accommodation.

I thank the Deputy for raising this. If it is in court tomorrow-----

They are in court tomorrow.

-----the eviction ban applies.

No, it does not. The Tánaiste just does not understand. I have been saying it for weeks.

Sorry.

Because the notice to quit was before the Government introduced the ban, it does not apply.

The Deputy did not say that.

I have only got one minute. I have said it about 20 times in this House.

The Tánaiste has one minute.

The Deputy has never stuck to one minute. Has the Deputy spoken to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage?

Yes.

Okay, we will pursue it and try to get that resolved for the couple involved. I do not want to understate the anxiety and stress on that couple.

I am seriously worried about their welfare.

I appreciate that.

This Chair will try to keep both sides under the minute.