Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the funding going to local authorities to offset the shortfall in rates. Cork City Council has its budget meeting next Monday night. It has a shortfall in its budget which excludes the funding coming in for rates. Cork City Council has put up its local property tax by 7.5%, which will bring in an initial €2.5 million, but that will still not fill the gap because the deficit is €4.5 million. Next Monday night, therefore, the council will probably put up rent. It is putting up rents in local authority housing because it has no other way to fill the gap. The Minister says he is talking to the chief executives. In Cork city, we face an increase in rents and cuts to front-line services, affecting libraries, parks, playgrounds and staff. I assume there are other local authorities in the same position. Will the Minister consider additional funding? Although he obviously cannot provide it this side of Christmas, could it be provided in the new year, in 2021? Could he talk to the Department about this? We are going to try to be positive and raise these issues with him. I am just using Cork City Council as an example because I was a councillor there for 11 years and I understand it.

The last time the Minister was before us, I raised the issue of voids. He outlined his plans for voids, which I welcome, but I want local authorities to have more freedom and independence to fast-track the void system. Properties should not be lying idle for months or, in some cases, years. Rather than having local authorities going back and forward to the Department, involving red tape and bureaucracy, they should be given permission to fast-track, carry out the work and then submit the funding application, knowing it will be looked after. Cork city has more than 100 derelict sites that could be used to house families and others. Owing to a lack of funding, however, the council cannot purchase them compulsorily. A former Minister responsible for this matter, Deputy Coveney, changed the rules on the compulsory purchase of properties that have been derelict for two years or more. The funding was never made available to support this. There would be an easy victory to be had if local authorities had a funding stream to acquire properties that would get families off the waiting list.

The Minister is coming in with loads of plans. I appreciate that he is trying to make a difference but the problem is that there has been a decade of underfunding and a lack of supports for social housing measures to tackle the housing crisis. I am trying to offer solutions whereby we can have the quickest possible turnaround.

I recognise much work is being done on housing but the reality on the ground for those I am dealing with right now is that the crisis has become worse because of Covid. Even with all the work that is planned, it will take a while to make a difference. I recognise the work that is being done but we need to deliver quick victories where they can be had.