Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Very well. I can elaborate better. This problem in respect of the rent subsidy to people in the private rented sector exists and must be addressed. In my 40 years in politics, I have never seen the logic of hard-earned taxpayers' money being diverted to the extent it is into the pockets of the private rented sector and the landlords therein. One can be honest and acknowledge they are providing a roof over people's heads, but I refer to the recent demands by these unfortunates who are trapped in such private rented units. They think and have the expectation that when the landlord increases his or her rent according to the market forces that are at play, somehow or other we, that is, the taxpayers, must meet every €100 increase out of the taxpayers' pocket. A multi-agency approach of some kind is required in respect of how to handle landlords' expectations to be free to demand what they wish, as well as the expectation of those living in the private rented sector, some of whom may have been so doing for quite a number of years, to be rent-subvented. A balance must be reached in this incredible dichotomy between the rights of private landlords to whatever the market can bear and those who are renting and in receipt of a rent supplement. I do not appreciate fully the demand by certain tenants in the private rented sector to the effect that it is the Government's obligation to give increases to the landlords, pound for pound, €100 per €100, simply because the markets state they can get more for their properties in a given year. This is something about which the Government must be extremely careful as there are rights on both sides. These include the rights of those who are paying very heavy taxes and one must ask whether they are getting value for money if it is being diverted into the rental housing subsidy field.

Earlier, I mentioned and welcomed some of the schemes that are being redeveloped. However, one must also consider the changes that have occurred in society when it comes to housing and homelessness. As the Minister of State noted, there are victims who have rented privately, who can no longer afford to so do and who are very vulnerable. Tragically however, there are a large number of people who are victims of the culture of drugs and alcohol and who create mayhem in their own lives and, if they are married or have children, in the lives of their partners and children. Anyone who runs advice centres or who works at the coalface in society is aware that an ever-increasing number of such unfortunate victims of drugs and alcohol are ending up in chaotic lifestyles and ultimately are ending up on the streets. Consequently, when I refer to a multi-agency approach, while housing can do so much and the Department of Social Protection can do so much by providing rent subvention, there also may be a role for the Department of Health in how it is handling this mushrooming of drug addiction, in respect of both alcohol and other drug abuse, that is resulting in the homelessness of such persons.

At present, society is very tough. Thankfully, the moneys available to the Government are slowly filtering through and will create 5,000 new social housing units. I applaud the decision to bring back into proper use, for once and for all, the aforementioned 950 boarded-up houses, thereby benefiting the lives of those to whom they ultimately will be allocated. I hope to see the Minister of State at some of the opening ceremonies of the various schemes she is funding. I hope to see her one day at Dolphin House, when we can guarantee the regeneration programme's continuity of funding. I believe the Minister of State would be given a warm reception. In addition, an official opening ceremony should be conducted in respect of St. Michael's Estate, as well as other projects that are being opened.

I will conclude, as I do not wish to run over time. I wish to give over my remaining time to my colleague, Deputy Dara Murphy, who has been waiting patiently with copious notes.

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