Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this significant issue. I echo many of the concerns raised by other Members of the House, particularly about the need for the Government to put a greater focus on social housing. I have a number of comments which I hope the Minister of State will find constructive. Like all Members, I am interested in finding solutions to people's housing problems. I face this situation on a day-to-day basis so my comments will be in that vein.

No one will argue that the output of private housing has not increased. However, one must look at the housing system in its entirety. Why has Ireland such a high level of private housing output with such a low level of social rented housing? This country has one of the lowest percentages of social housing output in the EU. There are still tens of thousands of families on waiting lists looking for social housing. As a society we cannot simply forget their housing needs. For many poor and vulnerable households, access to good quality social housing is essential in that it underpins access to employment opportunities and health care while allowing people to rear their families in a stable environment.

Social housing is not just about bricks and mortar. It has evolved in recent years by providing a range of services for vulnerable households. One of the great creative challenges in the years ahead is to integrate housing with other policy areas such as health, which traditionally happened only on an ad hoc basis.

From my own background I am aware of how the voluntary housing sector has expanded. The sector is operating well below full capacity, however, and it is disappointing that the Minister of State has not shown greater urgency in clearing some of the blockages that voluntary housing organisations encounter. In Mayo, for instance, the two most common questions in this regard are, in effect, why the Government has not increased the capital funding limits for voluntary housing organisations since 2002 and why there is such a delay in getting schemes technically approved by the Government, as this did not happen in the past.

Having been involved in this sector since the early 1990s, I cannot recall such a long period during which there was no increase in the capital funding limits, which in some respects are more important than the overall increase in expenditure. I recall when the capital funding limits in the mid-1990s were not adjusted for over two years, the output of this sector fell dramatically to just over 400 new homes per year. That is why I urge the Minister of State to take action, as similar signs are starting to appear, with output in the voluntary housing sector falling in 2004. Early intervention to increase the limits in 2003 and 2004 would have prevented this.

I also ask the Minister of State to ensure that voluntary housing schemes that have been through the local authority planning process are not held up for months on end by the Department's technical officials. Perhaps the Minister of State will consider other ways to speed up the process, such as getting the National Building Agency involved. I am particularly disappointed that, having passed legislation in 2002 to allow voluntary organisations access to the Housing Finance Agency, nothing has happened to date.

I am sure the Minister of State is aware of the good work local housing associations undertake in meeting housing needs. However, this commitment and good faith by voluntary housing organisations must be met half way by Government. Otherwise lack of action on a number of these issues will demoralise organisations and show that the Government is only half-hearted in its commitment. It is not enough to keep repeating verbal commitments, concrete action is needed.

I acknowledge the Government's decision to support the safe home programme to assist returning elderly emigrants. This has been a major success to date, with more than 400 elderly people being housed throughout the country. I am somewhat concerned, however, that if the capital funding limits are not increased housing associations will not be able to provide many more units for the elderly. I also urge the Minister of State to take the lead in promoting sheltered housing. Sheltered housing keeps elderly people in their own communities and prevents them from moving prematurely to nursing homes. Too often there has been buck-passing as regards who is responsible for the various aspects of sheltered housing. I ask the Minister of State to consult his counterpart in the Department of Health and Children to ensure that sufficient dedicated revenue is provided for the ongoing running costs in sheltered housing.

Sheltered housing has been a great success and that is why co-operation with the Minister of State's counterpart in the Department of Health and Children is essential in making this area more mainstream to meet the needs of the elderly. I am concerned, from feedback in the west, that the elderly and people with disabilities will not appear in large numbers on local authority waiting lists for a variety of reasons. In future housing needs assessments should be made so that the care and supports needed by these groups are taken into consideration. This is essential for the planning of new projects. A major awareness campaign should be conducted by the Government in terms of local authority waiting lists and assessments, similar to what is being done by the affordable homes partnership as regards affordable housing. Many vulnerable groups and new immigrants are unclear as to how those on waiting lists are dealt with.

I urge the Minister of State to take on board the recommendations on social housing produced by the National Economic and Social Council in 2004 and to make this a much greater priority. Otherwise it will become the Cinderella of the housing system.

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