Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the opportunity to raise this issue. I also thank the Minister of State for his attendance to reply. A firm in my constituency, Simmonstown Stud, Celbridge, County Kildare, owing to a change in operational procedures found it necessary to make a number of employees redundant. These employees were accommodated on site in what are known as tied houses. In other words, on foot of their terms of employment they had a house for the duration of their employment. We fully respect the right of the employer to change his or her operational procedures. There is no dispute as to whether the employees in this situation have to leave; we know they have to leave and find alternative accommodation. The problem lies with the length of time it takes to find alternative accommodation in the present climate.

A group of people comprising approximately half a dozen families who have lived and in some cases given up to 20 years service to their employer now find themselves, having been made redundant, also homeless. In different times it would have been possible to rehouse them through the local authority. However, Kildare County Council has 6,500 families on its housing list and there is no possibility of them being rehoused quickly. It must be done through a process of negotiation between the housing authority and potential tenants. Problematically, the agent for the employer is unwilling to listen to reason and, according to the tenants, is proceeding to hassle and intimidate them into clearing out of the houses and giving the firm vacant possession. While it is undoubtedly entitled to vacant possession, the manner in which this is being achieved leaves a great deal to be desired. In these enlightened times when we are more conscious than ever of the need to be fair to everyone and of the rights and wrongs of events, everyone, including those in a position to do so, should recognise that individuals not in such advantageous positions should be accommodated. We should also recognise the vulnerability of the families concerned and give them reasonable time to find alternative accommodation.

The theory is that, when someone is made redundant, he or she will receive a redundancy payment, as will be the case in this instance. The theory is also that people should be able to use their redundancy payments to house themselves. However, this stretches the imagination quite a bit. As we all know, it is not possible to do so, even with today's lower house prices. If necessary, the law should be changed to ensure that, in circumstances such as the one I have outlined, sufficient time is given to enable negotiations to take place and allow people to acquire alternative housing. Having given up to a quarter of a century of service to a particular employer in many cases, the people concerned should not need to use their redundancy payments to rent accommodation in an emergency.

These were the conditions of the time and, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I know well, operating under such guidelines was beneficial to all concerned. There have been many such cases. In most, both sides are willing to accommodate each other. In this case, the tenants, for want of a better description, are willing to accommodate their former employer by vacating the properties as quickly as possible. In such circumstances, there must be recognition of the fact that people need a little extra time, particularly in the current economic climate. If the legislation does not allow for this, it should be changed.

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