Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be parochial about the housing problem and perhaps change the debate slightly. Killarney is no different from many other places in that there is a significant housing list and houses are scarce at the present time. Anything from €900 to €1,200 per month is being asked in rent for houses but the maximum rent allowable under the housing assistance payment scheme is approximately €550.

Killarney is also unusual in that most of the land south of the town is prime amenity. It includes the national park, Killarney House and lands and Muckross House and lands. However, we are now awaiting the local area plan for Killarney for 12 months to 18 months. There were many instances where there was phase 1 and phase 2. In phase 1, the lands were held up because the people had no money or whatever. In phase 2, people were prepared to go. I want to tell the Minister of State that there is no hoarding in Killarney. Many people are waiting for the draft plan from Kerry County Council.

The Department has a role in ensuring that more land is allowed to be zoned residential, as was allowed heretofore. I am asking the Department to increase the amount so zoned. It is wrong to confine the amount of land that is zoned. If only so many property owners' land is zoned, they have a monopoly, which means that they can charge more and it is the person buying the house who will pay the piper. It is very unfair. Zoning should not happen at all. If an application is made, it should be up to the local authorities to decide that it is worthwhile, that it meets all the requirements and that all the services are available where they are being built, etc.

It takes up a lot of time and in many instances it finishes up being very unfair.

The repair and leasing scheme should be extended to rural towns and villages. It only operates where there is pressure for social housing. Most rural areas, towns and villages are practically dead. If the Government is serious about bringing people back to revitalise them, it will have to extend the repair and leasing scheme to apply to rural areas.

I have highlighted many times in the House that 80% of people applying for the tenant purchase scheme are being disallowed. It is very unfair that pensioners who have lived in a house for 30 or 40 years and now have the wherewithal to purchase it are being denied the right to purchase it. That is very wrong. The Minister of State should look into that.

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