Dáil debates

Thursday, 14 February 2019

Homelessness: Motion [Private Members]

 

1:50 pm

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to acknowledge the work of Deputy Broughan and his staff in preparing this Private Member's motion. We have been consumed by health issues in recent weeks and I welcome the fact that we are being reminded again today of the importance of housing and homelessness. I took part in two debates in the House last week. One was on the child and adolescent mental health Service, CAMHS, and the other was on a report on childhood obesity, both of which are relevant to today's debate, such is the effect of homelessness on children. Being homeless and in inappropriate accommodation, whether that is a hotel, bed and breakfast accommodation or moving from one relative to another, has a devastating effect on the physical and mental health of adults but it is particularly hard on children. We know of the delays in accessing CAMHS and it is schools and youth projects that are picking up the pieces for these children. Great work is being done in school completion programmes, by home school liaison officers and youth projects but they need more support and resources to continue their work. It is very difficult for families living in temporary or unsuitable accommodation to cook and eat healthily. They are overly reliant on take-away and fast food, which contributes significantly to childhood obesity.

Last night RTÉ broadcast a very interesting report on homelessness in Dublin. The figures were very stark, particularly the really significant increases in homelessness in the last few years. I acknowledge that people are moving out of homelessness and I know of many individuals and families who have finally found a home. However, no sooner does that happen than others are becoming homeless and going onto the housing list because of unscrupulous landlords who are evicting them in favour of those who can and will pay higher rents. A ban on rent increases should be introduced overnight with no lead-in period because we are in a housing emergency. Those landlords who are ethical and moral and who have certain standards would not have a problem with that. To make a real difference, evictions must cease except in very extreme circumstances.

We are all aware of the complex needs of rough sleepers but they are getting lost in the current housing crisis. The mortality rates for those sleeping rough are shocking. A study conducted a number of years ago found that the average life expectancy for men sleeping rough was 44 years while for women, it was 38 years. Life expectancy for the general population is almost double that. Such is the extent of the housing crisis that rough sleepers are falling down the priority list. Other groups that are getting lost include Travellers, people in addiction and those in recovery from addiction. The latter group in particular are being put into inappropriate accommodation which is making their continued recovery very difficult. Single people are also being left behind. We are all aware of the shortage of one-bedroom units.

Equally, those who were on the housings lists prior to the housing crisis are being pushed further down the lists because of it. The Minister's amendment refers to the availability of €6 billion under Rebuilding Ireland to support the delivery of 50,000 new social housing homes and 87,000 other housing supports over the six years from 2016 to 2021. I heard the Minister say on radio this morning that 8,400 social units were provided in 2018, either built, repaired or made available. Any increase is welcome. How does the Minister propose to make up the balance in the remaining two years? There is need for a detailed plan in that regard.

Social mix was referred to. I hope we will not repeat the mistakes of the past of putting all social housing in one block and, as I have witnessed, different treatment of those residents by the management companies. My bugbear is student accommodation. We supported it on the false premise that it would have an impact on the housing emergency. As students live in this accommodation for only eight to nine of the year it is a lucrative profit-making enterprise for the remaining months of the year. I have been in student accommodation. It is very good, with 24-hour management on site. Why is it the owners of this accommodation were not required to provide, say, 10% of this accommodation for suitable people? The urgency and speed with which student accommodation is being provided, which is very good quality accommodation, is not replicated in the provision of social housing.

In regard to the docklands, of the 1,178 apartments being built in this area only 26 will be social homes. There are concerns that there will be little or no social housing within the strategic development zone, SDZ, with social housing being located well away from the docklands area. Existing communities are concerned about the pressure to increase building heights. While agreed heights are already in place and some developers have adhered to them, there is increasing pressure to raise them further. This will have a devastating affect on the communities living in this area.

I acknowledge that the Minister has a difficult Ministry and that the root of the problem took hold before he took office in it but it is heartbreaking to hear the realities of life for those who are homeless. It is equally disturbing to still see derelict sites and local authority housing voids.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.