Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Housing waiting lists vary around the country. The last time I saw the figures, approximately 50% of the waiting list was concentrated in three counties: Dublin, Cork and Kildare. They are at the apex of the crisis of homelessness for families.

The experience in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown closely matches that in my area. Some local authorities are almost becoming homelessness agencies. How does the council deal with families and what kind of resources does it dedicate to this? Does it deal differently with families? For example, are child welfare issues considered where children are involved? There seem to be two major faults in the HAP scheme, one of which is a major resourcing issue at a time when there is an embargo. What engagement has there been between the Department and the local authorities on that embargo in respect of workforce planning for HAP? The Minister for Social Protection has told me that no one will be transferred from the rents unit in her Department. One cannot magic up solutions when the ratio of staff to population differs so much throughout the country.

In theory, HAP is a good idea and would address some of the poverty traps in the rent supplement scheme that arise if people take up work, which is possibly a disincentive. The second fault line, however, is how local authorities, particularly Limerick, which is the lead authority in this area, deal with tenants who pay under the table. We are all aware of these tenants. I do not know anyone in my area who is not topping up. Is it acknowledged? When Focus Ireland came before the committee a couple of weeks ago it said it had offered to give the names of people to show this was happening but the Department said it would withdraw rent supplement from those people, effectively making them homeless. Focus Ireland would not do that to its own clients. How do local authorities acknowledge something that is not acknowledged and deal with it in respect of HAP? We need to write a report on this issue.

I am surprised that the mix of private, direct local authority provision of social housing and the not-for-profit sector is not included in the high level committee. It will be necessary because that is one of the areas from which funding can be drawn down. We should include that in our report. Dr. Michelle Norris told us there was an impediment to drawing down funding. What is that impediment? If 4,800 houses could be built in that sector over the next three years that would be a valuable contribution and it would be useful to us to know about the impediments.

My questions are directed at the Irish Council for Social Housing, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Limerick County Council and the Peter McVerry Trust in respect of the increasing number of families presenting as homeless.