Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

If the Government ever gets around to building social housing, it would be a big help, but it is two years away. In September alone, 45 families became homeless. We must deal with the people who are most vulnerable, given that this is supposed to be the Department's priority. Why does the Minister of State not have a chat with the Minister for Finance? NAMA was set up in order that we would not flood the market with too many properties too soon that would be sold too cheaply, but that is exactly what has happened. Big blocks of houses and apartments have been sold to speculators. What are they doing with them? They are banking them; they have become the new landlords. As there are not very many of them, it is easy for them to form a cartel, which is one of the main reasons rents are rocketing in places such as Dublin. There are too many rental properties in the hands of too few people who bought them at rock bottom prices because the Government decided to sell off NAMA assets at well below cost of most of this property and allowed the banks to do something similar. As it has added to the problem, rent supplement is worth bugger all to the many who are trying to find a home because it does not meet the rent charged. The Government can talk about building social housing, which is great as we want it to build it, but what is it going to do to prevent homelessness in the meantime, in the next two years?

There were 45 families in September. How many will there be in October, November and December?

See this speech in context