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

It seems as though we are here week after week discussing the issue of housing and homelessness in circumstances where there has been no real progress in this area over the lifetime of this Government. After the launch of six separate plans by this Government, 130,000 people are in need of permanent social housing, more than 10,000 people are homeless, a whole generation are facing the prospect of never owning their own home, and rents are spiralling out of control. I do not see much success here.

I have spoken many times about the lack of housing. Specifically in terms of rent, I point out that rent pressure zones were designed to target spiralling rent costs. Fianna Fáil legislation to extend this into 2020 and after must be approved.

4 o’clock

This morning my office received a call from a concerned constituent in Clonakilty who advised that a tiny one-bedroom apartment where it is not possible to swing a cat has just been placed on the rental market at €825 per month with a deposit of €1,000 required in advance. This may sound low to people in Dublin but obviously rents are relative and this is not within the grasp of many people seeking to rent a property in Cork South-West.

Fianna Fáil has worked continually to effect change in the housing sector. If the Government is serious about tackling this matter once and for all, it will adopt this motion.

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