Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In March of this year, I stated in this Chamber that the Government's priority for the remainder of its term must be the resolution of the housing crisis. While many of the housing issues which hit us in 2008 like a tsunami, such as mortgage arrears and negative equity, are still with us, there can be no denying that the most serious aspect of the housing crisis at this time is homelessness. For nearly a year, I have chaired an internal Labour Party committee on housing which works to deliver proposals to our members at Cabinet. As a party that has social housing as a core value, we are striving to fix this crisis. However, as the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, observed last night, there is no magic wand.

The motion put forward by Sinn Féin is laudable in its intent but deliberately unrealistic in respect of how its objectives can be achieved. It does a disservice to the seriousness of the issue and its only purpose is further to inflate Sinn Féin's populist credentials. Moreover, some of the measures called for in the motion have already been initiated by the Government. Deposit retention legislation, for example, is already in train. The call for new houses to meet the required building regulations and standards is already happening. In my own constituency, the first new homes built in Swords in more than seven years are in compliance with the new building regulations, including efficiency levels for warmth, energy efficiency and generous amount of space. I am also pleased that the local authority will receive units in this new Swords development for social housing, in compliance with the Part V regulations.

In our struggle to secure more units for social housing, it is good news when any new homes become available. The Part V provisions must continue to deliver housing units rather than cash in lieu to local authorities. We are also seeing the first local authority houses being built in Swords and Balbriggan since the early 2000s. While I accept that the numbers are insufficient, it is a start and a move in the right direction. The Labour Party in government always oversees the construction of new social houses. While I accept the context for this motion and acknowledge that there is indeed a crisis, I cannot accept a motion that is ultimately designed to fail, from a party that has no track record in delivering any housing in the history of the State.

I am incredulous that Sinn Féin is calling for a ring-fencing of funding for housing and homelessness services for the lifetime of this Government, when its own members on Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council voted against Labour Party proposals this week which would have contributed much needed emergency funding for homelessness in the Dublin area. When Sinn Féin's own councillors had the power within their grasp to help those in homelessness situations, by just a little, they chose populism over action. My party colleagues and I will work with anybody to solve the housing crisis, but Sinn Féin members have proven they are more into playing politics with the problem than solving it.

I will be supporting the Government's amendment and am encouraged by its content. Particularly welcome is the indication that work is being done to prevent discrimination by landlords against recipients of rent supplement. This is an issue our internal committee has raised. I urge the Minister to encourage the Attorney General and all relevant Departments to report to him in a very short timeframe on this matter. The "No rent supplement need apply" advertisements are plain economic discrimination. There are people on rent supplement who would be able to meet an asking price for rent in the current market but are not even being entertained by landlords. That is not acceptable.

Tenants must have rent certainty in order to plan for their future. Rent control in the form of linking rents to the consumer price index must be given serious consideration. With the possibility of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation being phased out, it might now be time for social emergency measures in the public interest, SEMPI, proposals. One such measure could be a change in landlord-tenant legislation which would extend the rent review from one to two years, thereby giving greater certainty to tenants. Realistic funding for the rent supplement scheme for 2015 must be provided in next month's budget to take account of increasing rents. I look forward to the publication of the social housing strategy in the coming weeks, which will set out measures to be taken in the next five years to address the supply of social housing.

The Minister is aware of the recommendations of the Labour Party housing group. Those recommendations are multifaceted and cover the range of need across this crisis. I am confident they will form part of the strategy. Our core recommendation is that we need a greater and regular supply of social housing units. That aspect simply must be addressed. With the private housing market beginning to stir, we need to ensure maximum developer compliance with their Part V obligations. We cannot, however, return to the failed Fianna Fáil strategy of allowing private developers to deliver our social housing. The privatisation of social housing did not work in the past and will not work in the future. Social housing provision is best delivered from the State through local authorities. This is what I stand for and what the Labour Party stands for, and it must be delivered.

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