Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State's reply. It is great that 25,000 people will have their properties improved and made energy efficient. However, I am concerned about those who have no homes. I understand the huge commitment that has been made in respect of regeneration projects, particularly those in my area at St. Theresa's Gardens, Fatima Mansions and Dolphin House. All that the Minister of State outlined will be of no use to people who are on the housing waiting list and who cannot get into houses or flats. As already stated, 166 units are vacant at present. I cannot understand the logic used by the city council and others in respect of this matter. Surely it would be better to return those units to the system because people would then be paying rent in respect of them. I accept that the amount involved would only be a drop in the ocean but at least 166 additional families would be housed. Like the Minister of State, I am lucky to have a roof over my head. I cannot imagine what it must be like not to be able to go home each evening and lie in one's own bed. That must be a terrible state of affairs. One can understand the dilemma faced by those who are homeless.

There is a major problem within Dublin City Council in the context of the recruitment of staff, particularly craftspeople.

When people leave a maintenance section in Dublin City Council, they are not replaced. That is very bad not only for the vacant properties but also for other properties. The new letting arrangement will come into place in the next month or two in Dublin City Council. Will it make any difference when there are no units out there to give in? People will be judged on their length of tenure. What will happen is - I have spoken to many staff about this - that people in rented accommodation will go onto the priority list because most of them will have been living in rented accommodation for 15 years. They will go directly back into the system at the top. The ones who have no property within the Dublin City Council area, those who are homeless and others who are on the list, will not have an opportunity. I thank the Minister of State for her answer but radical changes must be made in Dublin City Council. I know she and the Minister, Deputy Hogan, will do their best. I hope the new city manager, Mr. Owen Keegan, will be given the opportunity to meet the Minister of State as soon as possible.

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