John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, to the House and pay tribute to the work being done by her in the area of homelessness. I am happy to do whatever I can to help her in that regard.

As I have previously stated in regard to homelessness, it is criminal that it is permitted to happen. However, failure to deal with the causes of homelessness is an even greater crime. Before I elaborate on those causes I wish to take this opportunity to compliment the Simon Community on the great work being done by it, in particular its offices in Athlone and in the midlands. It is important its budget is protected, particularly at a time when charitable organisations are getting a battering and being painted with the one brush, some unfairly so. We must be mindful of this.

I found Senator Ó Domhnaill's contribution laughable. The Senator reminds me of an assassin in that he comes in here, fires a scud missile and then runs out the door as fast as he can. While in the House he throws around figures such as 98,000 and 198,000. While he appeared during his contribution to be passionate about homelessness and housing he left the house once he made that contribution. That is unfortunate because I wanted to tell him the reality on the ground. There may, on paper, be 98,000 people on county council housing lists. However, I have never believed that the number of people on local authority housing lists reflects the actual number of people seeking local authority housing. The majority of these people are forced on to these lists so that they can qualify for rent allowance. Many of them do not want local authority housing. Such lists are not a proper guide. The Minister of State is being criticised because of this guide put in place by the previous Government. The reality on the ground is different.

Two weeks ago, I spoke to a housing officer in my area about a particular house I was trying to help a family get and was told that the council had written to 23 families offering them the house but only two had any interest in taking it. This means, if that were to be replicated across the country, that 9% or less of the people on local authority housing lists really want local authority housing. I acknowledge the situation might be slightly different in Dublin. However, it is a significant fact that should be taken into consideration.

Since coming to Dublin, I have met with many homeless people. They are all over the place, including in doorways, and are often begging for money. I feel sorry for them and often to talk to them. I know from talking to a number of them - this matter was touched on earlier by Senators Hayden and Landy - that a homeless person who receives a rent deposit from a community welfare officer and become homeless again for some reason or another, perhaps a marriage break-up, violence in the home, drug issues which he or she could not handle at the time but has since dealt with and is back on track, is not entitled to a second deposit. Community welfare officers should have the discretion to grant deposits so that such people can secure accommodation because when they do they then have an address and can access social welfare payments such as rent allowance and so on. This issue needs to be re-examined.

Another matter of concern in the context of homelessness in Dublin, which could become an issue in rural Ireland, is the threat by the banks to evict people from their homes. I know from talking to qualified insolvency practitioners that unless a person has money the insolvency service will not be able to help him or her. This issue also needs to be addressed. I am holding a seminar next Monday night in my county, which will be attended by an insolvency practitioner who will inform people about what services are available to them. As things stand, it appears that this service benefits only rich and not poor people.

Another issue of concern mentioned earlier is that of qualification under the legislation in respect of county council housing. In the case of a marriage break-up, one of the couple often retains the house. Let us take the example of the man retaining the house and the wife and children moving out. The wife might agree to the husband remaining in the home because she knows that in the future the house will be there for the children. The legislation as drafted forces people to resolve the housing issue, which means they have to go to court, engage expensive barristers and sell the house, which in itself causes a degree of homelessness. Also, in the meantime the woman and her two children cannot access the county council housing list.

Another issue that will become very topical in the next week or two, which the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan needs to take up with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan soon, is the proposed introduction of by-laws in regard to mooring costs for people living on boats on the canals and waterways. Approximately 400 families in this country currently paying only €126 per year in respect of mooring will if these by-laws are introduced now be faced with charges of €3,500 per annum. Many of the people concerned are retired English couples and families who cannot afford housing. It is within the Government's gift to decide to reduce those charges from €3,500 to an amount more acceptable to those concerned. If this proposal goes ahead there will be 400 or more additional families on the housing waiting lists.

I support the motion. I will continue to work with the Minister of State in trying to resolve all of these issues.