Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 35:

In page 62, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:

“52. (1) The Minister shall, six months after the coming into operation of this Part, cause a review to be conducted which shall assess the effectiveness of the measures contained in this Part under the following categories:(a) the net effect on the numbers of families waiting for accommodation to be provided to them by a housing authority in each local authority area;

(b) the net number of individuals and families who are on the emergency accommodation waiting lists in their respective areas;

(c) the number of local authority staff required by each housing authority for the optimal administration of the measures under this Part;

(d) the funding required from the Central Fund or the local government fund for the optimal delivery of the measures under this Part.(2) The Minister shall compile the data and analysis undertaken under subsection (1) into a report which shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and transmitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, or its successor Committee.”.

This is quite a big experiment. I completely take the point that the finances available to the State are limited but there is scope to leverage funding from other sources, including pensions and the European Investment Bank. Some of that could be at arm's length from local authorities and some of it may take in housing associations.

In its absence all that will be available is the housing assistance payment, HAP, and reliance on the market to deliver housing for those on waiting lists.

I know the Minister of State plans to do a pilot with seven local authorities. The issue arises then of how to monitor its effectiveness, for example, how many are in emergency accommodation and the funds available. This amendment is intended to give an opportunity for us to come back here, perhaps annually, to monitor this social experiment. It is the biggest change in social housing perhaps since the foundation of the State. Increasing numbers people will qualify to go on housing lists because the more their incomes are driven down, through taxes and charges, the less they will be able to purchase houses, even in favourable circumstances where mortgages are available for those on low incomes. It will be essential to monitor this experiment to ensure it is not allowed continue if it is seen to fail.

We have not seen the results of the Limerick city pilot. I know that one of the seven other pilots will involve a large city authority which should give some sense of the difference between large and small authorities. There should be ongoing monitoring. The Government is undertaking large regeneration schemes where there were failures in housing policy, but we should not allow this to continue if it is seen not to be the solution to the housing problem. I do not believe it will solve the problem.

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