Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This has been a useful debate. Previous speakers spoke about the scale of the problem, the way it is impacting on many of their constituents and we heard stories of students sleeping in cars. It is important on the day that is in it, when a homeless man died in Newcastle, that we should mention the fact that there are homeless people sleeping in squalid conditions. Unfortunately, that man has died.

The only point that was out of sync in this debate was a point included in the Minister's script. I do not blame him for that, as I do not know who wrote it. His script states, "This is a delicate balancing act of ensuring the vital protection of our students and increasing the availability of affordable student accommodation, while ensuring the constitutionally protected rights of property owners." The point was made that we already have rent pressure zones. I am concerned we are making this issue more complicated than it needs to be. Certainly it is a difficult issue to address and we want to get it right, but we should not be trying to create barriers where none exist.

We are aware of people being exploited. Traditionally the accommodation that many students lived in was squalor but we are in the 21st century today and things have not improved. We can all give stories about students living in sheds and in accommodation with subdivided rooms and so on. If one speaks to a welfare officer from any of the student unions he or she will tell of students who come to college hungry and starving. They do not have enough money for food, never mind accommodation. This is the reality we are dealing with.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien's intervention was good when he asked the Minister of State where we are going from here. That is the big question. I agree with the spirit and the intent of this proposed legislation and it is a way forward. It is really up to the Government now to follow through on this. It is not enough for the Government to say that it will support the Bill. If we get the dead hand and nothing happens on it, that is no use either. Collectively, any Minister who sat in the Chamber tonight and listened to the debate will realise there is a crisis out there and we need to do this. It is about urgency but it is also about responsible Government. A responsible Government would respond immediately to this crisis which is affecting so many young people right across Ireland. All Members may speak of their own constituencies but this is happening in every area where there are students. Increasingly students are having to travel for longer distances and having to work longer hours. This impacts on their studies. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan hit the nail on the head when she spoke of the students whose families are not wealthy and the barriers they face in getting an education. We need to make things easier for students. They should not have to protest outside the Dáil. The responsibility is on the Minister of State.

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