Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

This debate provides a timely opportunity to discuss the Government's abject failure to plan for the needs of the increased and increasing population. I refer to the failure of the Government to prepare for the housing, transport and health care needs of the increased population. Members should stop patting themselves on the back.

We have over-priced houses and 50,000 families on social housing waiting lists. As other speakers have noted, we have overcrowded hospitals, traffic congestion and jam-packed commuter trains. By April of this year, the population of this State had reached 4.13 million people. Rapid population increases as a result of economic growth have exacerbated problems with shortfalls in the provision of public services such as health, transport, education and housing. It has contributed to deterioration in the quality of life for many in this State. Increased tax revenues from the increased workforce have not been put back into increased services for the increased population. This is a dangerous mistake. As the population continues to grow, services and infrastructure will be stretched to the limit.

The Government failed to plan for the long-term housing needs of a growing population. The housing stock per population ratio of the Twenty-six Counties was 390 units per 1,000 of population at the end of 2003, compared to an EU 15 average of 440 units per 1,000 of population. Many of the 50,000 families on social housing waiting lists have been waiting for years to be housed. Some, such as single males, find it particularly difficult to secure social housing. The National Economic and Social Council stated:

An increase of permanent social housing units owned and managed by local authorities and voluntary and co-operative bodies, in the order of 73,000 in net terms between 2005 and 2012 is necessary to meet the need for social housing.

Nearly a year after the publication of that important report, the Government has yet to make any statement indicating whether it accepts this recommendation. In no other area of policy has a hands-off approach been more evident than with regard to housing. It is bizarre that something so vital to life is so ignored by the Government. What is the Government's housing strategy? How does it intend to address the housing needs of our increasing population?

Population growth has not been met by a growth in the capacity of the health service. The effects are seen in overcrowding in accident and emergency units, bed shortages and unacceptable waiting times for urgent medical intervention. A total of 3,000 extra beds in public hospitals by 2011 were promised in the national health strategy of 2001. As of this month, only 800 have been provided according to Government figures. Plans for primary care centres across the State have been put on hold.

Unfortunately, the treatment received by many migrants who come to this State is the unpalatable truth that lies behind these statistics. While I will not go into the issue in detail, the Government reaction shows no sign that it is committed to cracking down on such exploitation. The pathetic strength of the labour inspectorate alone is testimony to this.

According to the figures under discussion, the total immigration flow into the State in the 12 months to April 2005 was estimated at 70,000, 38% of whom were nationals of the ten new EU accession states. At the time of their accession, the Government introduced a two year habitual residence requirement before workers could access social assistance. Sinn Féin opposed the introduction of these restrictions, arguing that the proposals would expose migrant workers to unnecessary hardship. Evidence has now come to light of the hardships experienced by such workers in situations where they unexpectedly become unemployed and where their accommodation was linked to their employment in some cases, they became homeless.

Yesterday, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions published a briefing paper on migration policy and the rights of migrant workers, in which it called for the amendment of the habitual residence requirement to specifically allow for the payment of social assistance or benefit to workers on employment permits who are made redundant or who have been unfairly dismissed, including constructive dismissal.

This is a reasonable demand upon which I urge the Government to act without delay.

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