Mr. Tommy Ryan:

On behalf of Roscommon County Council I thank the joint committee for the opportunity to present the position of a rural local authority on the forthcoming housing Bill and the more general topic of meeting the current housing demand. In our submission we examined the general scheme of the Bill and compared and contrasted the proposals therein with the current legislation and practice. Particular attention was paid to the matters of termination of tenancy, tenant purchase and the proposed housing assistance payment. We have also summarised the estimated demand for, and supply of, housing in County Roscommon with particular reference to the demand for social housing.

Roscommon has a population of 64,000 and is the eleventh largest of the 32 counties of Ireland by area and the fifth least populous county. It has the second lowest population density after Leitrim. It is projected that the population of the county by 2020 will be 71,166, an increase of 6,202 persons. The regional planning guidelines state that there are on average 2.5 people in each house and therefore 2,480 houses will be needed between now and 2020. The housing strategy estimates that 6% of land zoned for residential use needs to be used for social housing, with 370 social houses up to 2020.

We have considered three significant operational changes in the Bill. In respect of termination of tenancy, the council believes that engagement with the tenant at an early stage of rent arrears is critical and is the practice in Roscommon, which in most cases leads to good outcomes. The county council welcomes the process of a tenancy warning with regard to non-payment of rent. This legislation will provide the necessary support for this practice.

Section 62 has never been used in Roscommon with regard to anti-social behaviour because the council implements the policies and procedures as set down in its anti-social behaviour strategy which provides for the resolution of problems, mediation, multi-agency co-operation and behavioural issues with minors.

The council has carried out a detailed comparison of the proposal for incremental purchase with the previous tenant purchase schemes which is appended to our opening statement submission. Tenant purchase has often had the effect of providing stability within a local authority estate by contributing to the mixed tenure nature of the development. Disposal of local authority housing assets during a period of almost zero construction, however, will reduce the availability of the number of social housing units.

The introduction of the housing assistance payment, HAP, as a social housing support to assist rent supplement recipients who have a long-term housing need is welcome. Its introduction will consolidate all forms of social housing supports within the remit of local authorities. It is a new departure for local authorities and will take some time to implement. The transfer of the long-term rent supplement recipients into HAP will challenge human and financial resources available to local authorities. In Roscommon there are approximately 800 persons receiving rent supplement, approximately 513 of whom are in receipt of long-term support. This will significantly increase the council’s responsibility from its existing 1,200 tenants and 420 rental accommodation scheme tenants. The council has set out in its submission some observations to be considered for the implementation of the scheme.