John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013 is a technical Bill and its purpose is to make several changes to section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 in respect of the harmonisation of rents across different local authority areas. I have no difficulty in supporting this but there are several issues which I want to raise.

I agree with Deputy Gerald Nash on the role of local authorities in the provision of housing. The reality is that housing departments in local authorities are in a critical condition. One of the less commented upon aspects of our economic difficulties is the fact local authorities are just not constructing houses while housing departments are managing and transferring local authority tenants between existing units and cannot provide any additional accommodation. I also agree with the Deputy on the RAS and long-term leasing that they individually have some merit, certainly at a time when the State cannot provide significant investment in the construction of local authority housing. There is a need for the Department, however, to look towards the return of local authorities in the direct provision of accommodation units for families and individuals in the next couple of years. While RAS and long-term leasing are useful in providing accommodation for thousands of families, there is still something deep in the Irish psyche about home ownership and the benefits it brings to communities.

There was much comment recently following the death of the former Prime Minister in our neighbouring jurisdiction, Margaret Thatcher, who introduced - and by doing so assured her subsequent re-elections - a scheme that allowed local authority tenants to purchase their own local authority houses. We were actually ahead of them in that regard. However, now with the RAS and long-term leases, local authority tenants do not have the prospect of purchasing their house. It means they do not have the responsibility of looking after it, looking after the community in which the house is located or have the opportunity to set down permanent roots in a locality. We need to return to allowing local authority tenants to purchase their own homes. I accept pressures for finance are significant - nearly every debate in the House is premised on that - but it must be examined by the Government.

I agree with Deputy Finian McGrath on housing adaptation grants. There are increasing numbers of people eligible for these grants who are being told more or less that unless they have some critical medical condition they will not see the adaptation work done in the next couple of years. It is not fair to build up the hope that there is a scheme in place but it is constructed in such a way that one cannot access it. Again, I know funding has been reduced but extra provision needs to be given to local authority housing departments for housing adaptation grants.

I acknowledge the need for the introduction of the local property tax and that it was contained in the memorandum of understanding with the troika. However, there is still some disquiet about the classification of unfinished estates. Obvious errors seem to have occurred between the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities - with each one blaming the other - resulting in people in estates which are clearly unfinished having to pay property tax. This is despite being told they would not be subjected it to earlier because their estate was unfinished. The Department and the Minister of State with responsibility for housing need to re-examine the classification system to ensure unfinished estates are exempt as was the original intention.

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