Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

When the Simon Community’s latest report was released, it showed very clearly that the people least able to access private rental accommodation are those on the lowest incomes, those dependent on the housing assistance payment, HAP scheme and those on the rental accommodation scheme, RAS.

If the Taoiseach reads the Simon Community report he will see that they are not able to get rented accommodation. The housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is down for priority in the autumn schedule, but will the Taoiseach give me the exact date it will come before the Dáil? That legislation will be mainly about fast-tracking the planning process. How will that help those who today cannot access private rented accommodation, despite being supported by the State to do so, because the rents are so high and landlords do not want them? We have a real problem in this regard, with over-reliance on the market, a lack of social housing, and a Bill that is being brought forward to fast-track planning. That needs to be addressed, but we need a debate on it as soon as possible. I ask the Taoiseach to comment on the latest report from the Simon Community.

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