Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. The Taoiseach's policy of withdrawing medical cards from sick citizens has no credibility whatsoever. Private Members' business this evening, which is a Sinn Féin motion on this issue, will give him an opportunity to change his tune and to rectify this crisis.

There is also another crisis, a major housing crisis causing untold misery to thousands of citizens, including children. Within sight of this Chamber there are thousands of people, some young and some not so young, sleeping rough on our streets. Other families - thousands of them - are living in cramped, over-crowded conditions with parents an grandparents because they cannot get a home of their own.

Mortgage distress is also a major social issue. The number of families in mortgage arrears is now 136,564. The Taoiseach's proposal, as I heard it on "Morning Ireland", aimed at encouraging banks to lend more only to buyers of new houses reads like an extract from the election stunt section of the Fianna Fáil handbook of strokes and other scams. It does not make any sense in dealing with the crisis. There are also well-founded concerns that his proposal will lead to inflated houses prices. The Taoiseach must know that housing lists in all local authorities are lengthening. The bill for emergency accommodation is spiralling. There is a tenfold increase in the past year in spending by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive on emergency accommodation. The Fr. Peter McVerry Trust has dealt with 3,600 homeless cases, mostly young men, in the last 12 months alone and the number of families losing their homes has more than doubled according to Focus Ireland. That spending on housing in Dublin city is to be reduced by €53 million. A radical change of policy is needed.

Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson, Deputy Ellis, has already suggested a plan of investment in social housing that would see the construction of 7,500 new homes on top of current targets.

There is €1 billion of unused money in the strategic investment fund that could be used to stimulate the construction industry, mar is eol don Taoiseach, níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin. Will the Taoiseach commit to taking this practical measure as part of a package of initiatives, including the introduction of a right to housing, protection of families from eviction and rent controls?

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