Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There have been many announcements by Government of initiatives to address the housing crisis. Nevertheless, there remains an ongoing crisis at all levels across the housing sector. In Dublin alone, 1,200 families - including 2,500 children - are living in hotel accommodation. Last November, there were 6,985 men, women and children in emergency accommodation throughout the State, a 31% increase on the number in November 2015. Unfortunately, there is no evidence of additional supply coming through by way of the provision of social housing. This has led to an over-dependence on the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme, which uses the lower end of the private market to supply homes to families. Rents are at an artificial high across the country notwithstanding the welcome legislation that was passed last December to limit rent increases to 4% in particular areas. Unfortunately, that measure will not alleviate the problem in the short to medium term because it addresses only future increases and does not deal with the existing artificially high rents across the State.

Simon Communities of Ireland delivers supports and services to more than 8,300 people every year who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. Today it published its latest Locked Out Of the Market report illustrating the stark realities of rental increases across the country and how, despite modest increases in social housing payment caps, 80% of rental properties are beyond the reach of rent supplement and HAP recipients. Private rental supply, the report notes, is down 44% since May 2015. The report shows the average number of properties available to rent decreased by 19% in the 12 months since the last report in August 2015. There is a growing gap between rent supplement and HAP caps and current market rents. The report confirms the number of properties available to that cohort is shrinking, particularly for individuals and couples. Simon Communities Ireland personnel work at the coalface and they are extremely worried that if things continue as at present, the crisis will deepen in the short term.

Today's report from Simon Communities of Ireland is further evidence that the imposition of rent caps should not have been limited to Dublin and Cork. I assure the Minister that the crisis is affecting all parts of the State. In my own constituency of Mayo, I have families coming to me on a weekly basis seeking help to find homes. These people have given up hope of ever getting a place in social housing and are seeking my assistance to secure a private rental property. It is next to impossible to find a three-bedroom family home in Castlebar that falls within current HAP limits. Westport is a no go area as far as affordable accommodation is concerned. More must be done and done soon if we are to meet the challenges presented by an artificially high rental sector.

Simon Communities of Ireland has called for the rent certainty measures to be extended as a matter of priority. Will the Minister indicate when the reviews of areas outside of Dublin and Cork will be completed and when the rent increase limits will be extended to those areas? What does the Government intend to do to address the supply issue? Without more supply, the problem will only get worse.

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