Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

Housing is an essential social need. The Taoiseach and his Ministers are telling people what a great country this is and how wealthy we are, but they have failed to consider the housing needs of our people. The increase in the cost of rent supplement to the Exchequer is directly linked to the lack of adequate investment by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in local authority housing programmes. Clear figures have been given on this by my colleagues.

The aim of any rent supplement should be to temporarily alleviate financial suffering on those within the rental sector while housing and financial needs are being met. Those who benefit from rent supplement find that, once their financial circumstances improve, they are still without a form of financial support while they are waiting to be re-housed. In the towns and villages of north Cork, where I come from, some people are waiting for between five and eight years to be re-housed. That is an awful state of affairs. In Cork East alone, Cork County Council and local town councils such as those in Fermoy, Youghal, Mallow and Cobh, are becoming ever more dependent on the Part V provision to meet local housing needs.

What is being done with the Government's money and why is it not buying the land to build local authority houses on? We have a scenario whereby private developers are meeting social needs under the Part V clause. In some cases local authorities are actively engaging with housing associations for the provision of social housing responsibilities under the Part V provision. Housing associations do not allow for the eventual purchase of the house. Rents relative to those of the local authority are marginally higher while no opportunity arises to purchase the house.

The dependency on rent supplement will only end when a significant investment is made in the local authority housing programme. The market for housing means housing support as outlined by my colleagues is more equitable and allows for a greater transition period while people readjust. Private investors realise there is a ready made market comprising of rent supplement dependent families and individuals. The increase in house prices has forced more people on to housing lists. It is essential to provide housing for our people. This is not being done by the Government, and I support this motion wholeheartedly. Many adjustments must be made.

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