Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the rent stability measures and the suite of other measures announced by the Government and, in particular, by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, to address our housing shortage and the issue of homelessness. The rent stability measure proposed is a short-term measure, pending restoration of equilibrium in the rental market.

On the issue of rent certainty, we are living in extraordinary times as regards the market. The massive constraint on supply has led to the current shortage of housing. In conditions where we have such restricted availability of housing, we can understand how rents increase. I believe sensitive interference in that market is justifiable in the short term, on the basis that we are addressing the supply side. I understand that the discussions that took place were concerned with getting the balance right and providing evidence that interference in the market works. There are various views on this, but I welcome the decisions that have been made and look forward to their benefits for tenants who now can expect their rents to be reviewed every 24 months rather than every 12.

This is a significant step. As Deputy Mitchell O'Connor said, we have to continuously address this as a matter of urgency.

In our drive to address the housing shortage and homelessness, I welcome the €4 billion social housing strategy. Social housing has held families in great stead in terms of what we used to call council housing. We can safely say that some of our best and closest knit communities are council housing areas. It is testament to the sort of people who are there. I also welcome the fact a tenant purchase scheme has now been announced. This allows people, in due course, to buy out their houses and have a further stake in their communities, if they so wish.

Returning to something Deputy Mitchell O'Connor mentioned about her visits to rural Ireland, I wish to raise a matter the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, and I have discussed at length. I know it is close to her heart and her portfolio. Deputy Mitchell O'Connor spoke about the housing estates but I wish to speak about the town centres, the rural market towns of some size. There are houses and residences over shops and when the last person dies, the house is left empty. Some of them are very fine with some significant heritage value. We see them in the town cores. This was happening even during the Celtic tiger; people were moving out of towns and moving to housing estates. In many cases, there was inferior-type building or construction going on and many are now paying the price out of their own pockets. The most extreme example of this is pyrite.

Will the Minister of State look at the issue of revitalising and repopulating these towns? It is not so many years ago since families lived in them. We can incentivise owner-occupiers and first-time buyers to live in these houses by giving them a tax break. It would not be developer-led but aimed at individuals who are interested in buying a property to live in. We need some incentivisation beyond normal market forces.

The other issue is zoning of our town cores. The way retail has gone, we will no longer need a shop on every corner. People's habits have changed and yet we want to ensure there are essential services in these towns, such as a shop, a post office, a doctor, etc. We need to plan a new model for market towns so that we have basic services. In that sense, we also need to look at rezoning some commercial premises and supporting small, independent traders. Tax breaks for people who will redevelop and live in the centre of towns is part of a suite of measures we should be undertaking to address housing supply in the longer term. Everybody does not have to move to the countryside or live on the edge of a town. People should be able to live in the centre of towns. We must take the bull by the horns because the situation will not get better by itself. The market towns will continue to be the sort of depressing places people have described, even if farming is on the pig's back, so to speak. Farmers never admit to that. However, this situation is very serious.

I welcome the allocations the Minister, Deputy Kelly, has made for energy efficiency measures in local authority housing stock. They allow people to have warmer homes and save on electricity and heating bills. In the case of Mayo County Council, between 2011 and 2014 approximately €2 million was allocated and €1.8 million drawn down by the local authority. Although this shows real benefits for tenants, one issue needs to be seriously looked at. People's heating systems are being upgraded and we know that new boilers, be they oil boilers or whatever, are far more efficient. Whether in local authority or other housing, these upgrades need to be done. However, I take particular issue with the fact local authorities are doing planned maintenance and upgrading heating systems by putting in oil-fired central heating. They are taking out ranges and back boilers. I regularly make representations for people who cannot afford to fill a tank with oil. They are living in a cold house whereas in the past, they had solid fuel. If we are looking at low carbon emissions, it should be wood pellets. The fact local authorities are investing in these heating systems means they are putting people in fuel poverty. That is what is happening; they cannot afford to heat their houses. It is wrong and needs to be revisited. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, to take that up with the Minister, Deputy Kelly.

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