Mr. Dermot Lacey:

We are approaching the end. The association recognises and supports various Government measures to address a number of issues. In particular, we acknowledge the additional money for housing adaptations and extensions. However, I take the opportunity to point out a particular adaptation problem that primarily affects former local authority houses and the former Dublin City Council or Dublin Corporation houses in particular. Tenants who wish to expand into their attics in order to provide additional bedroom space for their families have a major difficulty because the heights of the attics and their standard development do not fall under the building regulations requirement. They are perfectly suitable for bedroom conversions but because of the Department's regulations, they do not comply. A very simple change could be made to allow for decent quality bedrooms if the Department were to reduce the required height for attic conversions. I believe the level is around a foot and a half. I do not have the exact figures here. We welcome the additional funding for housing adaptations for older people.

We would like to see the fairly immediate application of the changes to Part V of the Planning and Development Act to at least make a start on the 10% of social housing provision. We believe there is a case for an affordable housing provision similar to the last scheme. While affordability became less of a factor for some during the crash, it is becoming more of a factor for the future.

We welcome the introduction of a vacant site levy, although perhaps its introduction could be brought forward. We believe there is a major case for a levy on vacant houses. The figure of 230,000 empty housing units, which I believe we heard from this committee, is a scandal. Even if it is only half that figure, it is a scandal. We believe a vacant house levy might tackle that issue.

Households in mortgage arrears and facing repossession should be able to transfer their homes to a Government agency or a local authority where they can continue to pay rent and live in the family home. Clearly, there is a need for greater provision of appropriate emergency accommodation and the provision of greater services for people in need of addiction and mental health supports in all parts of the country - it is not just an urban issue.

There is another issue that affects Oireachtas Members as much as it affects local authority members. Until recently, local authority chief executives issued the councillors with the housing allocation and transfer list. In many local authorities that has ceased, apparently on the direction of the Data Protection Commissioner. Some councillors and Deputies abused that in the past by sending out letters informing people they were getting houses before they had even got them. My understanding is that in recent years those lists were only issued after the allocation was done. However, it meant that councillors and Oireachtas Members could stand over the integrity of the allocation and transfer list. As now issued to councillors, one cannot stand over the integrity of the allocation list. It also has the side effect of councillors very often continuing to work to get a house for somebody who has already got the house with the downside impact that has on the local authority staff. In addition to the big picture issues the committee is considering, it might also make recommendations that councillors and Oireachtas Members could continue to get those lists.