Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In 2015, we increased Exchequer funding for social housing by more than a quarter over the previous year's level to €800 million. As a result of our new, focused approach last year, we achieved a marked fall in the number of vacant social houses to as low as 1% in Dublin city and some 2,700 units were completed. We introduced legislation giving local authorities enhanced powers to counter anti-social behaviour in their estates, which will help to build and maintain sustainable communities. We championed home ownership for the social housing tenant with the introduction of a new tenant purchase scheme. The roll-out of the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme to all categories of households in 18 local authority areas continued apace, with approximately 6,700 households supported by HAP since its commencement in September 2014. We are actively managing local authority land that is suitable for social housing. This will play a vital role in meeting the need for new homes. We introduced new Part V provisions to guarantee the delivery of social housing from developments of nine units or more. We are not returning to the old days of taking the few bob and using them on everything except for what they were meant.

When a housing crisis happens, the lucky ones have the support, resilience and resources to get back on their feet. Undoubtedly, being homeless impacts on every aspect of a person's life. One person without a home is one too many. I do not underestimate the challenges that homelessness presents. Of course, this is not always the case. Having nowhere to live is sometimes not the only challenge that homeless people face. Many have poor health or drug or alcohol addiction. For these people, I have tried to make a real difference. That is why I am pleased that the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin fell by 46% in 2015.

The trauma of families becoming homeless and the uncertainty of temporary accommodation cause them damage. Local authorities, the Department of Social Protection and homelessness agencies do a great deal to try to prevent homelessness occurring and ensure that families get help before descending into crisis. However, it is growing more difficult for them to find the right kind of housing. With demand increasing for private rented homes, local authorities and tenants alike are facing tough competition for the right housing at affordable prices. I am keen to work with all stakeholders on exploring how we can increase the supply of long-term and well-managed rented accommodation. The Government is providing the tools and funding to build more of the right homes and support people in them. However, this is a joint endeavour. The solution to homelessness requires input from all.

Homelessness is the most acute symptom of the dysfunction in the housing market. Restoration of a properly functioning housing market is vital to eliminating the scourge of homelessness. This is why we have put a comprehensive strategy in place that will significantly increase the provision of social housing over the next five years. Our Construction 2020 strategy complements the social housing strategy with a range of measures that are intended to achieve a significant resumption of private sector house building. In addition, we have put in place substantial measures to reduce the burden on tenants in the private rental sector with a view to eliminating the number of people being pushed into homelessness by the economic force of spiralling rents, thus easing pressure on the demand side. The Government has reformed the private rental sector to give greater protection to tenants and landlords, ensuring that most tenants will not face a rent increase in 2016. I commend the Department of Social Protection's tenancy sustainment initiatives, which enabled thousands of households to remain in their own homes in 2015. Some 2,000 people exited homelessness last year. A 24% increase in the number of people exiting homelessness in Dublin was also recorded and rough sleeping reduced by approximately 46%.

Regarding the protection of renters and Fianna Fáil's position on the issue, the Government announced in September, and the Oireachtas has since passed, measures for significantly increased protections for renters, including two-year minimum rent review periods. Fianna Fáil's policy on this matter was to limit rent increases to 10%. That proposal was actually weaker than what was already in place, namely, that rents could only be set in accordance with market rates. Fianna Fáil's proposed policy on protecting renters and those vulnerable to homelessness was weaker than what was already in place.

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