Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Nobody can doubt the Minister of State's credentials in this area. Her social conscience is beyond question and we have witnessed that both in her interviews and the efforts she has made. The debate emphases one of the greatest challenges a caring society has because homelessness is a lonely and devastating place for people. They have no self-esteem and they are almost like refugees. For that reason, we have to admit we are losing the battle when it comes to homelessness, particularly as we emerge from the Celtic tiger era, which is surprising. The numbers of homeless have greatly increased as the recession has continued. A total of 100,000 households are on the social housing waiting list. In addition, over the past 12 months alone, there was a 200% increase in the number of people sleeping rough, particularly in the Dublin area. We thought some years ago that we had succeeded in finding a remedy for this. I presume the recession is part of the reason for the increase but the cuts in social welfare payments must also be playing a role.

I am sure the Simon Community is in as close a contact with the Minister of State as it is with me on a regular basis. The organisation is staffed by young, idealistic volunteers and I refer to their experiences trying to help homeless people overnight or in the short term. What is happening is catastrophic. I hope the Minister of State will examine the fundamental causes of homelessness. Some of the budgetary decisions have not been helpful. They were made obviously because of the pressures on the State's finances but when we debate housing issues, we begin to realise that more people have joined housing waiting lists because of these decisions.

NAMA's portfolio is raised regularly in the House. It is large but movement on it is almost at a standstill. Every so often, there is a story about the sale of a major building, the agency has a significant number of properties that could be used to relieve housing lists but it is argued that they would not be suitable. That is not true because the agency has listed the residential properties at its disposal. The hold up has to be administrative. It may also be legal and I do not know is what the main argument. The urgent need to deal with homelessness demands solutions to any problems that may arise and I cannot understand why NAMA has not released property when homelessness is on the increase. I am sure the Minister of State has tried to deal with the agency but sometimes one has to come up with different solutions because one cannot always deal with what is regarded as the norm. It is terrible that properties are vacant while people are lying on the streets not just of Dublin, but other towns and cities.

The lack of self-esteem among the homeless places further demands on the State because they are not able to help themselves. Where there is a family involved, it is serious and it undermines human dignity. The decisions that need to be made on homelessness should be the same as the decisions when we have a flooding problem. Homelessness should be treated as an emergency to which we must respond immediately. If we go through the slow motion of administrative structures, we will continue to have a problem. Local authorities say the greatest difficulties they face in providing housing stock are legalistic. People are putting obstacles in the way and I do not say the Government is doing that. However, we must engage with local authorities to find out precisely what are the legal problems that are causing them difficulties. The voluntary housing associations are telling us the same. They have done great work but they are dealing with bureaucracy and legal obstacles, which are preventing them from moving ahead.

I admire the Minister of State and she is doing her best but very often the obstacles do not come with her remit, whether they relate to NAMA, voluntary housing associations or local authorities. If the soaring increase in homelessness we have experienced over the past 12 months continues, the numbers will be frightening. The Government cannot keep up with the increases in the numbers on housing waiting lists on top of the 100,000 households that are waiting on social housing. Instead of making inroads into the numbers, which I presume are at their highest in the history of the State, we are adding to them. I do not have answers. All I can do is reflect and relate what I experience. The five issues I have mentioned need to be closely examined and if an emergency response is required, it should be provided.