The Tánaiste is probably well aware that there are thousands of council tenants across this country living in absolutely scandalous conditions with mould and damp. In my constituency, I have been working with a number of harrowing cases. I visited homes and have seen mould and damp on windows and in bedrooms, and the impact on children and babies. How is it right and fair that council tenants living in mouldy and damp conditions in houses that the State is responsible for are now being charged higher rents in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis because the Government has failed to fund councils sufficiently?

Some 40% of council tenants are in poverty after they pay their rent. That is five times the rate of homeowners. How can they afford more? Is it fair that children are left living in mouldy and damp conditions with devastating impacts on their health? Will the Tánaiste make a real move on the cost-of-living crisis for these people, and will he give councils the funding required for maintenance so they do not have to increase rents on these people?

I see the Deputy linked two issues. I see them as somewhat separate. The idea that anyone is living in a home owned by the State that has mould and damp and that children and the likes are there is not an acceptable situation. I fully agree with that. If the Deputy wants to provide me with the information, which I know he will, I am happy to pursue that with the Minister for housing and with the local authority too. Local authorities have a duty of care to their tenants too and just like governments at a national level have to manage their budgets, so too do local governments as well.

In relation to the budget in general, there will be a focus on child poverty. I acknowledge the Deputy was at the child poverty and well-being summit in his constituency in recent weeks. There are a number of targeted measures that we need to take to help families and children most at risk of poverty. The fuel allowance, which opens on Monday, is one such payment but there will be a number of other measures in the budget in 12 days' time.