Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives of the County and City Management Association. It is clear from what they have said that they have put a lot of thought into the area of housing. I have a few questions, one of which the witnesses can come back to. In terms of best practice elsewhere, what has happened in other jurisdictions and in local authorities in the United Kingdom? Obviously we should not and cannot reinvent the wheel, but this has happened before, even in Ireland. It happened in the 1970s. It happened in the United Kingdom after the Second World War. If it is possible, will the representatives inform us what systems or schemes their research tells them worked? On that point, one thing that strikes me, looking at the 1911 census, is the number of people who lived in the centre of towns and over shops and businesses. That is practically gone, certainly in Drogheda and Dundalk. Would it make sense to have an attractive scheme, tax-incentivised, to allow developers or owners of those properties to upgrade to an apartment? The problem will be the physical size, shape and the type of those buildings but, provided they meet fire regulations, is there any reason we could not fast-track planning in town centres? Clearly it would help single applicants and childless couples, although it would not necessarily suit families with young children. It seems to me it is an obvious place where we could make a significant difference.

Some years ago there was a scheme under which local authority tenants could be assisted in buying homes. For example, I am a local authority tenant and I am working and have a certain amount of money saved, but maybe I cannot make the 10% deposit. I know families like that. Obviously there would have to be an affordability test, but is there a case to be made for people to get a significant grant to help them buy a home?

That could relieve pressure for people and the house could be handed back to the local authority if they vacate the tenancy. Is that worth looking at?

I agree with the comments other people have made about empty homes, which is very important.

Many housing applicants who come to me are concerned about the treatment they get in local authorities. It is not specific to any place or time. In some areas people have to do their business in public through hatches and everybody can hear their problems. I do not like that and I think it should end. Perhaps the County and City Management Association might have a view on that.

The question was asked as to who or what causes homelessness. I have a different question. On Friday afternoon somebody who is homeless called to my office in Drogheda. Through no fault of their own nobody in the council could make a decision on that case on a Friday afternoon and that person ended up homeless again for that weekend. In such cases, should we not insist on a system whereby decisions can be made on those cases?

Sometimes some local authorities can put applicants into hostels and hotels. Some local authorities do not do that. The Department assures me that the funding is there to put somebody into a place of safety, but it does not necessarily happen. Do the witnesses propose any changes that ought to be made regarding homelessness? There should be uniformity of treatment across all local authorities. Regardless of who those people are and where they come from, there should be the same positive reception to their needs and no doors should be closed against them for any technical or other reason.