Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On my behalf and that of my party, we wish the Tánaiste and his family well in the future.

Last week, the Government launched a plan whose aim was to end homelessness by 2016. It is a very laudable plan that every Member of this House wants to see succeed. We will work with the Government in trying to achieve that goal. In recent months many councils in the State have faced an increase in the number of people presenting as homeless. Part of the reason for this is down to Government policy on rent supplement. As rents increase, particularly in urban areas, the cap on rent allowance means that many families can no longer afford the home they are renting privately. Therefore, they are being forced out on to the streets and presenting to local authorities as homeless.

The capital funding being provided to local authorities over the past three years has decreased under the stewardship of the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. There was a 23% decrease in 2012, a similar decrease in funding for capital projects in 2013 and a 5% decrease in funding this year. These are all contributing to the problem of many people now facing homelessness. Under this Government and under the Minister, Deputy Burton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, the housing crisis has got worse.

One of the solutions to that is for the Minister, Deputy Burton, to instruct local community welfare officers that a family at risk of being made homeless should be given permission to breach the rent supplement caps. I ask the Tánaiste, as leader of the Labour Party and as a member of the Government, to ensure that directive is given to local community welfare officers. Where a family in danger of being put on the streets because they can no longer afford their private rented accommodation, welfare officers should be allowed to breach the rent supplement caps.

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