Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am taking the Taoiseach's answer as meaning that we will have an emergency debate next week. If that is the case, it is welcome, but it is very unfortunate that it comes after the Government has published its housing policy. That strategy is fatally flawed. It does not provide any response to the current homelessness crisis. It says nothing about the crucial issue of rent supplement caps or rent controls, despite the fact they are some of the factors driving families onto the streets.

The figure of 35,000 in regard to social housing does not add up. The Taoiseach, inadvertently or not, gave an answer. He said we are not building enough proper houses, which is the answer. Whose fault and responsibility is that? We have seen emergency time provided here to cater for major bankers and the elites. The Government supports socialism for the rich but the poor people, those at the bottom of the ladder, are not being supported. The Taoiseach obviously hopes that the private sector will fill this gap. He acknowledged that for decades the State has not taken responsibility for social housing, but instead handed it over to the private sector.

It is ridiculous that he is meeting the people on the front line after, rather than before, he published his housing policy. Now that he has been converted to some degree to some of these issues, does he agree that local authorities and voluntary housing associations are best placed to deliver the homes that people need and that they need a level of direct State investment far above that indicated in the latest Government strategy? Will he commit to this in the upcoming period?

This is happening on the Taoiseach's watch. He cannot blame anybody for this issue. I tried to approach it positively and did not want to score points. There is a major emergency, which has been flagged week in and week out for the past couple of years in the Chamber. Will the Taoiseach now commit to recognising that there has to be direct State funding to give people who need social housing the homes they require?

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