Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the CCMA members for attending, as the meeting has been informative. Much of our time has been given over to discussing issues in Dublin, with which I have no problem because that is where the need is greatest. Have our guests considered moving families with the greatest need in Dublin to more rural areas where there is less demand for housing? I represent Waterford city and county and, therefore, I am conscious of the urban-rural divide. Is it is a rule of thumb that each local authority can make up its mind on purchasing private houses? I refer to council estates that might have been built 20 or 30 years ago. Residents may have purchased their homes over time but they are now up for sale. These are usually three-bed semi-detached houses or bungalows that are on sale for €95,000 or €100,000. It would be much cheaper to buy them rather than try to turn over a sod. The Waterford local authorities are only inclined to buy them if people present with health issues. They are not bought to increase housing stock.

In the case of single mothers with three or four children in a two-bedroom house, would there be merit in extending the property rather than waiting for, say, two years until a three-bedroom house becomes available for them? Extensions are only built for people experiencing medical issues but they are not done to enable people to remain in their homes. For example, they could have been living in a nice house in a nice area for ten years but their family circumstances have changed and they need an additional room or bathroom. Is there merit in considering extension and refurbishment as a solution? I am trying to propose solutions that offer a quicker fix than building housing estates. I acknowledge this proposal may only help six or seven families in an area but that could make a big difference.

HAP has worked well but there is a problem in the south. The rent supplement rate in Waterford is €525 a month while it is €590 in Kilkenny or when one travels over the border to Cork, it is €750. It is difficult for people to rent houses in Waterford for €525. The average rent is €650. This results in people on low incomes trying to pay the additional €125 or €150 out of their pockets. Landlords are in a win-win situation because their money is secure but it is difficult to get them to sign up for rent supplement because many of the tenancies are not above board.