Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I believe the election of the Ceann Comhairle by way of private ballot was a great day for the House. I am sure Deputy Ó Fearghaíl will be an excellent Ceann Comhairle. He is already demonstrating that he will be fair to all.

I represent the constituency of Roscommon-Galway and I have been involved in local politics for many years. I am truly delighted and honoured that the people of Roscommon-Galway elected me, which was probably one of the shocks of the recent general election.

I am saddened that as I make my maiden speech on housing the Minister, Deputy Kelly, is not in the House. Perhaps he is otherwise engaged. I thought his behaviour during some of the contributions made earlier was appalling. He constantly read from booklets and interrupted. I thought he took no interest whatsoever in what was being said. Those who know me well know I am not a person that makes this type of criticism. In my view the Minister, who I hope is listening in somewhere on a monitor, did not treat any Member of this House well this evening.

We all know there is a homelessness issue and not only in Dublin. I acknowledge that homelessness in our capital city is an extremely serious problem. However, there are families in Roscommon-Galway living in hotel rooms tonight. Some Members may find that hard to understand but it is happening. In the constituency of Roscommon-Galway, which comprises a small part of east Galway, there are 85,000 voters and in excess of 1,100 people on the housing waiting list. More than 60% of the representations made to my constituency office relate to housing matters. There are an extraordinary number of people in dire straits in terms of mortgages. This places enormous pressure on families. It is appalling and wrong that the banks and others are putting people out of their houses. For families, particularly those with young children, this is distressing, upsetting and not right.

In my view as a new Deputy all the Minister wanted to do when he came in here today was protect his record which, to me, is not good. We need a Minister for housing who cares. The Minister, Deputy Kelly, spoke about social housing and the additional units that have been provided. In my estimation no more than 250 social houses were constructed in 2015.

There are more than 100,000 people on the social housing list in this country. I do not believe any Member in this Chamber is kicking a political football around with regard to the housing crisis.

The Minister failed to mention modular housing. I remember the fanfare when he announced modular housing and the cost of it. If I am correct, he spoke of a cost of €100,000 or €150,000. I heard Deputy Eoin Ó Broin of Sinn Féin on national radio the other morning speak about the fact - I am sure if I am wrong, somebody will correct me - that modular housing costs would now be in the region of €250,000. He made the point that local authority houses could be bought for much less.

I will conclude, knowing that time is limited. I do not believe any other administration, particularly a Fianna Fáil one, would have let this develop to the point it has. It is shameful that many children are living in hotel rooms. It is wrong, wrong, wrong. I plead with the Minister to face up to the problems as long as he is the Minister.

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