Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has again written to Ministers Eoghan Murphy and Regina Doherty asking for clarity on rent supplement and how renters will be able to access emergency payments if they lose income due to COVID-19.

Speaking today Deputy Ó Broin said:

“Minister Murphy’s statement on Saturday unfortunately provided no real clarity for renters in terms of accessing rent supplement if they lose their jobs or their income falls due to COVID 19 and they can’t make their rent.

“Murphy must co-ordinate with the Minister for Social Protection and publicly state what will be made available and to how to access it.

“The Minister needs to bear in mind that renters were struggling with high rental costs before this crisis and the situation will worsen if there are jobs loses, temporary or other, in the household.

“He also needs to recognise that a lot a people who will need to access an emergency rent supplement payment will not have engaged with welfare services before and will need clarity on how to access the payment.

“Minister Murphy must also consider issuing a moratorium on evictions until this crisis has abated.”

ENDS