Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Sweetman and Ms Naughton. What is Mr. Sweetman's view on repossessions? Home owners who are dealing with both local authorities and banks and who have fallen on hard times in terms of work because of the financial situation and who might be making a contribution of only half of what they should be making in terms of repayments are still brought to court for repossession. They are fighting against that repossession order, something which I have done for a number of my constituents. What is Mr. Sweetman's view on how their position could be strengthened to allow them pay what they can afford to pay on that basis? Although the arrears are accruing, surely that is not good enough a reason not to give them space to deal with that and see how they can improve their situation, rather than having a repossession order granted against them with the result that they are sent them back to the local authority, about which Ms Naughton spoke, which then does not have any asset to give them. What is Mr. Sweetman's view on how that can be dealt with because what is happening currently does not make any sense in terms of the courts and so on?

I agree with Mr. Honohan's position on acquiring land by way of CPO. I represent Kildare North where the local authority has quite a number of land banks. It may not have enough to deal with all the social or starter housing required but it has enough to get local authority housing construction started, which has not happened for years. Currently, local area plans and county development plans are being developed but there is a problem getting land zoned for people willing to go out tomorrow morning with a digger and build houses, if they get through the planning system, because the lands that are zoned have been left aside for 25 years accruing capital. If we do not intend to CPO them, what is the best way in Mr. Sweetman's view of trying to deal with that legally in terms of the people sitting on those land banks who are preventing other people having land zoned that will help to solve the problem?

In terms of what can be done, the second bullet point is very relevant. There is a need for the private sector and local authorities to come together in this regard. We are not reinventing the wheel. We just need to stop talking about it and do something. I have never heard so much talk but with nothing being done, and we still have people sleeping on footpaths.

My next question is to Ms Naughton. The housing assistance payment, the rental accommodation scheme and rent supplement are not ideal but they are better than nothing and without those supports many more people would be in a very difficult situation. They provide a temporary home, although it is very temporary. What is Ms Naughton's view on overcoming the barrier with regard to people who are separated but who do not have joint custody of their child or children? As she said, if they have joint custody they will be accommodated but those who do not have joint custody who may want to stay overnight cannot do that because the local authority will not allow them pay rent for accommodation in those circumstances. In most cases the father of the child or children never gets to spend any time with them except during daylight hours.

Moreover, couples who have had repossession orders granted against them cannot get on the local authority social housing list to get supports to rent a property for their family. Although they are out of the property in question, their names are attached to it because it has not gone through the courts completely and they are not detached from that deed. This prevents and blocks them from getting on the social housing list. In Ms Naughton's view, what is the best way to deal with this issue? Is it through affidavit or is it through a change?