Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While homelessness figures in Cork South-West are not officially very high, this is due mainly to the fact that two, three and sometimes four generations of a family will live in the same house rather than have one generation moving onto the streets. As such, the figure is somewhat misleading. Even so, homelessness figures in west Cork are definitely increasing. I thank Deputy Healy for introducing the Bill. I have no doubt that it comes from a very good place. Unfortunately, however, I cannot support it. Fianna Fáil does not agree with the Bill. Placing a moratorium on rents or mortgages or in respect of any other housing arrangement is a short-term solution with no ultimate resolution. The Bill represents another ill-thought out plan which follows from many of the Minister's own plans which have come before the House in the past. As with many of the Minister's plans, the Bill seeks simply to kick the can down the road.

The measures outlined in the Bill will not house the young woman with whom my office is currently dealing. She lives on her own behind the public toilets in a west Cork town. She says it is the safest place she could find at this time. Is that not some reflection on our country in this day and age? It is nothing short of shameful. These measures will not reassure the family who have contacted me on numerous occasions distraught at having fallen on hard times. They have lapsed in their mortgage payments and are endeavouring to negotiate with the bank which is, unfortunately, unwilling to listen. The Bill will certainly not help the numerous families who have already presented to me with eviction notices providing them with a date and time by which they must vacate the properties which they call home.

The Fianna Fáil approach focuses on increased funding for social housing, new affordable housing schemes and measures to keep landlords in the market. The confidence and supply agreement has allowed us to negotiate a 25% increase in the overall capital budget. This includes funding for social housing and homelessness capital funding. It has never been suggested that the solution would be easy to find, but all Members must be pragmatic. A comprehensive long-term plan is the only way to address the issues faced by so many nationally and about which we have all spoken here tonight. Stop-gap solutions are part of the reason we find ourselves in the current housing emergency and it is time for serious action.

The Minister is a busy man and he may not be able to meet me at another time. Now that I have him here, therefore, I note that the key accountability test will be delivery. Since coming into office, Fine Gael has launched Construction 2020, the 2020 social housing strategy, Rebuilding Ireland 2016 and capital plans in 2012, 2015 and 2018. Housing cannot be used as the basis for exercises in grandstanding. Motions and announcements of things which never come to fruition should not take the place of serious policy and the investment which is needed to get to grips with the crisis.

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