Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The figure to deal with homeless situation in Dublin in 2015 was €37.16 million. By the end of August, €33.4 million of that money had been spent. Further moneys have been committed but not actually paid out.

There are a number of things that are happening, but they are not dealing with the matter to the extent that one would like. On the social housing front, the Government has put forward €4 billion to be spent between now and 2020. Furthermore, the allocation of local authority tenancies has been increased, and 50% must go to homeless people on the direction of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. That is to apply until 31 January 2016, when it will be reviewed. Second, money has been made available to restore unliveable houses, or voids, as they are called. A total of 500 have been brought back into use in 2015. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, has committed the additional funding for that. Third, the expert group set up to look at social housing and homelessness looked at this on an individual basis to oversee the delivery of a NAMA property, an apartment block in south Dublin which is now operating a 65-unit accommodation facility.

The question of modular housing was raised at the Cabinet sub-committee on a number of occasions. As people will be aware, presentations of different types of modular unit are now available. That will be followed through at Dublin City Council. In addition, the extension of the housing assistance payment to homeless people as a pilot scheme has brought in a further 50 people.

To be straight about this, we cannot deal with it in a satisfactory way until more blocks and concrete are used to build houses. Some 21,000 units in Dublin have planning permission but there has been no movement in respect of them. In some cases, builders acquired land at very costly prices and expect the taxpayer to make up the difference between its value now and its estimated value in the past. Yesterday, the Ministers for Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government mandated their senior people to examine a range of extra options to deal with the homelessness crisis. The situation is not satisfactory and I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. It is one which cannot be resolved until we provide more housing units and accommodation. We are working very hard on this matter.

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