Dáil debates

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta), 2017: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members]

 

9:35 pm

Photo of Michael FitzmauriceMichael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I would have worded it differently, mentioning "accommodation" specifically. We should live in the real world and if we said everybody in the country had the right to a house, the money would not be there to go around if the Government decided to act on it. Much can be done. There are 400 or 500 acres of State land around the country lying idle, with nothing being done by the Department. That is well known in the Department. Currently, the people of middle Ireland - for the sake of argument, two working people - cannot afford a house in Dublin, Galway or Cork. There is land there with a site value and even if the State has to take a hit, it should do so and provide affordable social housing.

We need to cut to the chase. The Department or councils are not fit to build houses; there is proof of that. We must ensure we can change that situation. I heard representatives of NAMA saying that if something is bought at a 50% discount, it is not great if the agency does not make a few quid from it. The Department has policy and we can argue if it is good or bad. That is fine but the Department is at this all its life. The councils deal with planning, but who has the expertise in delivery? We need to put a body together to ensure delivery or we will continue talking about this issue. Such a body should be able to get money at less than 1% now so that we can build houses. Houses are not complicated to build. We have the land so if we get money and people who know how to deliver, we can hand the properties back to the councils and let them run the process. We must also think of the people in middle Ireland.

Everybody is aware that there is now a major problem with homelessness. We must also address other issues. Unfortunately, almost every family in the country is affected by somebody who may have a problem that puts them in that scenario. I am referring not to everyone but to some people. We need to consider the social aspects of this issue also. There is a big problem coming down the line. I see what is happening with banks and people with distressed mortgages. They are getting buoyant trying to put people out of their houses. The vulture funds have bought the loans but they will not sell at the price at which they bought. If the Minister does not address it, we will hit more problems.

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