Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The delegation mentioned in its recommendations that the Government should be much more ambitious regarding the number of social houses it is to build. I welcome the statement that the Government should be aiming to build 50,000 social houses. Obviously, that is the focus of many homelessness agencies.

I wish to query a number of points in the submissions. The delegates called for a site levy, a role for NAMA and an increase in the proportion of Part V units to 20%. With regard to the allocation of 100% of local authority public housing to homeless people, Deputies might ask whether people are now so desperate that they would attempt to become homeless to get a house. We realise people are becoming homeless anyway, as I am aware since I come from an area where there is mass homelessness. I hate to say it like this but some people are in more of a position to do as I imply than others. In this regard consider the capacity of those with four or five children. To be honest, people are now resorting to all sorts of steps to try to get a house. I would like to hear the delegates' comments on how this might be prevented. We all know a hell of a lot of people on the social housing list or transfer list that are in dire straits and in overcrowded circumstances. They are in as bad a position as many other people. I am sure the delegates could testify that the transfer situation is brutal. There are as many bad cases of people who are in houses right now and who need to be accommodated. That is not the fault of the delegates because they are saying there should be more social housing.

With regard to the priority of this committee, it should focus on the provision of social and affordable housing. It was mentioned that mechanisms should be put in place to get the private market moving and building. However, I put it to the delegation that there is no guarantee that any of the private housing will go to homeless people, in particular, and even those in the rental sector who are in dire straits. There is no guarantee that housing will be affordable. I am not saying the delegation is putting emphasis on this but it makes several references to "across all tenures". It is often said by the Government that we just need to increase supply. We do not because there is no guarantee that the housing supplied will be affordable. We saw this during the boom. There was a significant number of properties supplied but nobody could actually buy any of them. One should consider the state we are now in as a result and the negative equity. Only 10% will go to people on the housing list. I raise this for emphasis.

Another point raised was that local authorities should fund approved housing bodies to deliver housing for the homeless.

I am glad Deputy Durkan has gone up to the Chamber.