Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Mooney and Ms Ward, who have both emphasised the need to enshrine housing rights in the Constitution. From a personal perspective, I believe the Constitution is a document of principle but the fine detail of what that means for any matter should not be in the Constitution. The fine details should be in legislation. That is my view and, given what we have done in recent years, I think the public believes that as well. On the basis that enshrining housing rights in the Constitution does not build a house, change a policy or direct a budget, are we sure it is the answer to the housing and homelessness crisis and to the 3,700 children who are in unsuitable accommodation?

I completely agree that local authorities should consider the best interests analysis which Mr. Mooney mentioned but there is an automatic knock-on effect that persons who are legitimately on housing lists are displaced because a family has applied and there are children involved. Clearly the remit of the Children's Rights Alliance, the Ombudsman for Children and this committee is to prioritise rights and protections for children and the supports they receive. That is our role. However, is the best interests analysis something that would by default displace individuals who are on housing lists legitimately and may be ahead of those families? Is that the priority? Is this similar to medical grounds becoming a priority? If that is the case, that is fine, I just wanted to seek that clarification from the witnesses.

I completely agree on the time limits. The evidence presented to the committee and the reading I am sure all of us have undertaken indicate the profound and long-lasting detrimental impact on children in unsuitable accommodation, such as hotels and hubs. It has the potential to seriously damage the development of children, teenagers and young adults. The effect may be felt for many years afterwards, as the witnesses have both outlined that these young people are unable to do their schoolwork or study at secondary or third level. There is no dispute that these would be profound and long-lasting effects.

None of us wants 10,000 persons in unsuitable accommodation or 60,000 or 70,000 people on housing lists around the country. There must be some way in which we can alter the manner in which we procure or deliver housing in the first place, including the planning process. It has been altered but I have not seen major evidence of run of the mill, three-bedroom, semi-detached houses being delivered on the basis of fast-tracking. It has all been apartments etc., which is fine. Since everybody outside Ireland is doing that, why should we not do it too? At the same time, I appreciate that a three-bedroom, semi-detached house with a front and back garden is something that families need; children need those desperately as there is no better space for a child to grow and be nurtured and loved than in a home with a garden.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Ireland is a signatory, has a reference to adequate shelter. I struggle with this as I have heard it so many times but does this change policy? If not, which policy needs to be altered to ensure 3,700 children will no longer be in unsuitable accommodation?