Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Last night there was a public meeting on this issue in Blanchardstown and 100% of those attending were women, many of whom had children. We might as well make life somewhat easier for them. There should be one place for them to go, and if they are to be shoved into private accommodation, the council should have the responsibility of at least sourcing it for them. I will give one example to illustrate why I think this is necessary. Deputies may remember the case of the Connell family, whose picture my party shared on Facebook. They were made homeless because of a rent increase of 42%, and the family was separated, with members living in three or four different locations. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, who represents the area, claimed that there were properties available in Dublin 15 and argued that the family just had to look a little bit harder. That was such an insult to that family, who were spending all day, every day looking for accommodation over a three- or four-month period. Following a meeting with the Minister, the family was given the number of a landlord in the Dublin West area who did accept rent allowance, but the family had been in contact with him already and he had no properties available to rent. Nothing was produced by the Minister or her staff. The family got accommodation in the end by going public in a campaigning way. Another family took pity on them and leased an apartment to them, which is overcrowded, but better than nothing. If the Minister for Social Protection could not find private accommodation within the rent allowance limit, how the hell can we expect anybody else to be able to do it?

It is time we declared a housing emergency. If people could see the attendance at this debate tonight, they would be horrified at the lack of interest. They would also be horrified at what is being put on the table. People are now being told that they will get housing assistance payments but they will no longer be on any list for permanent accommodation. I agree with Deputy Boyd Barrett's earlier point about telling that to the dozens of people with whom we deal on a weekly basis. Perhaps this is the straw that we need to break the camel's back and get people mobilised, through a national demonstration or something of that ilk.

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