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

This is a very important discussion. I agree with many of the points that have been made.

I wish to raise a number of points as I have questions I need answered. I agree with Deputy Coppinger that one needs protocols in place between the housing agencies and elected representatives. I had a case where a constituent was being put out of his home as a result of significant difficulties by a housing agency. Notwithstanding the fact that he was in my office, that we rang the housing body and spoke to the person in charge and that he confirmed to the person in charge his consent to me speaking on his behalf, the person on the other end of the telephone refused to communicate with him or with me on the grounds that she did not have a written letter of consent from the individual who informed her that he was illiterate and could not write. That was the bull that person had to face. It was an absolute disgrace. However, it was dealt with and we got a different outcome when I protested to the chief executive of the body. It goes back to the point made by Deputy Coppinger that one needs proper protocols in place. Obviously there must be data protection but when a public representative rings a State body, as we do, with the named individual in the room with him or her and with the person's PPS number, cut the bullshit and get on with the job. We have to be able to represent people.

NAMA has 6,564 houses that it offered to local authorities around the country. Only 2,520 of the houses were taken up by the local authorities. In Dublin, 2,030 homes were offered to local authorities, of which 757 only were taken up, which left 1,273 homes in Dublin. Were any of the approved housing bodies present offered any of those homes and if so, did they take them up or if not, what was the reason for refusing them?

It seems to me there is a significant lacunae of activity in housing. The local authorities have turned a blind eye to the housing crisis. They were offered houses they did not take. I acknowledge the good work that Ministers are doing, there is no criticism implied or intended on this matter, but we need dynamic leadership reporting to the Minister who will cut across all this red tape and get action.

In County Louth, they conducted a survey of empty houses, including boarded-up houses and they have done it very successfully. Is there anybody who lives on any street in any town that does not see or know of a house that is boarded up or shops or houses that have been boarded up for years? We need a more dynamic approach from the housing bodies, from the State or from an agency that will deal with this. If Louth County Council can go after empty homes that are boarded up and put them back on the market with social housing clients for an average of approximately €100,000 per house, without the need for additional infrastructure, as water, sewage works and other services are laid on, why do we not pursue this? What are the approved housing bodies doing about it? It is a no-brainer. One does not need millions to do this job right. It can be done for approximately €100,000 per home. The local authority puts the compulsory purchase notice on the boarded-up house and within a couple of months, if that is not responded to, it goes in and does the job. I think the approved housing bodies should do that as well.

I brought a housing agency round my town. I showed them 30 to 40 empty dwellings, blocked up, locked up and nobody in them. I hope something will happen out of that. There is a lack of urgency in our Administration in respect of dealing with this issue. I do not mean to be lecturing. I accept and acknowledge the excellent work the bodies represented by the witnesses are doing but that sense of urgency is not there today. We need to inject that sense of urgency into those dealing with housing. We as public representatives need to be more active as well.

Were the approved housing bodies offered houses that they refused? Is it not a disgrace that nationwide, there are 4,000 homes that could but do not house families as social tenants?

Such people may be paying exorbitant rents to vulture landlords. We missed a huge opportunity to deal with this matter. An opportunity exists now. If there are 165,000 empty homes in this country - there are at least 31,000 empty homes in Dublin - in the name of God, the housing bodies should get in there and deal with the matter. I urge the organisations to meet the Minister and the local authorities at county manager level. When that is done they should come back to us with a plan and we will push the initiative with our agencies and Ministers. The shame, disgrace and appalling situations that too many families face every day of the week cannot continue. They are living in extreme situations. Yesterday I read an article in a newspaper that highlighted the plight of a family who had to live in a tent located outside of a local authority building for three weeks.