Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, we recently made three important changes to our Constitution but this followed on from processes involving the Constitutional Convention and Oireachtas committees. In that context, I am happy to let the committee do its work, to deliberate on this matter and come back with recommendations to the Dáil and the Government.

Countries that have a constitutional or legal right to housing have not been able to provide the basic floor to which the Deputy refers. Those countries with a constitutional right, including South Africa, Belgium, Finland, Spain and Sweden, all have a homelessness and housing problem. Those countries that have a legal right, including Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Scotland, also have homelessness and housing problems. Enshrining such a right in law or in the Constitution will not necessarily provide the floor the Deputy mentioned.

I agree that people have a right to security and dignity and that the Government has a responsibility to provide housing. That is why we have such an ambitious programme of housing delivery, starting with 50,000 homes under Rebuilding Ireland. Under the new national development plan, the target is to provide 110,000 social housing homes between 2018 and 2027. In addition, we will also deliver subsidised homes through various affordability schemes that we are rolling out. The Government is working, through both policy and resources, to do everything possible to meet peoples' housing needs. We do not need a constitutional right or a legal obligation to do that but will do it anyway. If the committee makes a recommendation in that regard, we will consider it.

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