Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister mentioned yesterday that the number of people on the housing waiting list has decreased from 98,000 to 89,872 since 2011. He neglected to mention that since 2011, anyone coming into the rental accommodation scheme has been removed from the housing list. The number of people participating in that scheme now stands at 36,000, which represents an increase on the figure of 15,000 in 2011. That figure is quite revealing. While the numbers have moved around, they have risen overall. Despite the decision to remove rental accommodation scheme tenants from the waiting list, the overall figure has increased by approximately 29,000. Since 2011, the entire number of households that are not housed or inadequately housed by the State has increased by approximately 40,000 to approximately 125,000. Given that 1,500 adults and 640 dependent children are in emergency accommodation in Dublin, it is clear that the position is not improving at all. If this is not a crisis, I do not know what is.

Contrary to what the Minister claimed last night, our proposal does not represent "fantasy economics". It is a real proposal based on existing money that has been identified. We are not proposing that it should be spent on anything else. We have isolated €1 billion from the strategic investment fund for social housing investment. All we can do is make proposals - it is up to the Minister and the Minister of State to treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves, rather than resorting to the kind of constructive debate reserved for cranks in the comment section of thejournal.ie. The Minister said last night that significant new builds are absolutely required. It has been reported that he is asking for €250 million in the forthcoming budget.

See this speech in context