Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

While I do not doubt that there has been some welcome news in this area in recent weeks, it has been quite small in scope because of the difficult financial times we are continuing to endure. We often talk about the financial crisis, but it is clear from what has been said during this debate by Deputies on all sides of the House that we are facing a housing crisis as well. I welcome the funding that has been made available for 15 units in County Waterford. This significant development in the centre of Dungarvan, which will provide accommodation for older people, might free up larger properties that are much needed by families that have been on the waiting list for a long time. Some moneys have also been made available in Waterford city, but the number of units to be developed there is quite small and more are needed. This development of social housing in Waterford is positive, but it is just a drop in the ocean.

I would like to illustrate my point by referring to the small town of Dungarvan, which had a population of just under 10,000 people at the last census. I have alluded to the development that has been sanctioned on the site of the old Ormonde cinema. We often hear about housing problems in cities, but the fact that there are over 400 names on the Dungarvan Town Council housing waiting list is an illustration of the extent of the housing crisis. Single people and families are waiting on the council to provide them with accommodation. The level of funding being provided is just not enough to make inroads into the lengthy lists. Not enough houses are available to meet the needs of individuals and families. Housing is at the top of the agenda when people call into my constituency office every day of the week. It is a huge issue for the people I meet at my clinics. As other Deputies have said, people are not considered for housing unless they have been on the list for more than five years. This problem is not confined to large urban areas and cities. It is important to point out that it affects every town around the country.

I have found during my work on this issue that there is a particular shortage of three-bedroom family accommodation. I understand that internal research which has been carried out by the Labour Party shows that there is also a shortage of accommodation for single people. For many years, policy has understandably favoured certain groups while failing to meet the needs of people who are not married and do not have dependants. As a result, many single people have had to live in bedsits and other unsatisfactory forms of housing. We know that living in poor accommodation can lead to poor health outcomes. It is important that we try to meet the needs of all groups of people.

The Minister of State will agree that the most frustrating aspect of the housing issue for public representatives and their constituents who are looking for housing is to have to walk past houses that are boarded up. While I welcome the moneys the Minister of State has made available to local authorities to deal with the issue of void units, it is up to the local authorities to spend those funds in a way that provides homes for people. We have all heard about bathrooms and kitchens that are perfectly fine being torn out of houses, thereby delaying families from accessing those homes and increasing significantly the cost to the Exchequer of providing housing. A common-sense policy needs to apply as we deal with this crisis.

An estate renewal programme is vital because there are ongoing problems in large residential areas with empty houses. When a house that may be unattractive but is potentially tenantable and inhabitable is allowed to stay empty, the local area can unfortunately become affected by anti-social behaviour and crime. The projects and initiatives that are being pursued in Limerick, with which the Minister of State is very familiar, need to be extended across the country. A great deal of investment has been made in the regeneration of the Ballybeg area of Waterford. The aesthetic improvements that have been made to that housing estate have lifted the whole area. The benefits of that initiative in areas like social capital, community potential and how people live their lives provide first-hand evidence of the positive effects of regeneration. It is a good investment because it prevents the degeneration of a community, which is hugely important.

I would like to mention some other issues before I run out of time. Many families are trapped in the rental accommodation scheme. If they accept a contract under the scheme, they have to come off the housing list. If their family circumstances change for some reason, or if their landlord no longer wants to rent the property after the five years have elapsed, they have to go back to square one because they are not on the housing list. I know the rental accommodation scheme provides a solution in the short term, but it is not suitable for families or communities in the long term. Essentially, we are asking people to uproot and move every five years. I do not think that is a good social policy. I do not think it is good for families, children or communities. While I commend the Minister of State on the work she is doing in this regard, I think we need to do more. The Minister of State needs the help of her colleagues, including the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance, as she tries to secure the finances required to tackle this crisis. I hope they are listening to this debate.

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