Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The homelessness figures have reached an all-time high, with 10,000 people currently homeless. Does this Government really realise that these are not just statistics, but real people who deserve the fundamental human right to safety and shelter? In this Chamber we have debated ways to relieve to current housing crisis over and over. I am baffled as to why, after all the hours of discussion and hopeful promises, more people are becoming homeless than are leaving homelessness every year.

Rural Ireland is crying out to be populated and wants to see its deteriorating villages and towns restored to their former glory. In my own constituency of Cork South-West, 100 new houses were proposed for the village of Ballinspittle over the lifetime of the county development plan. None of these houses have been able to go ahead because of the inadequate sewage treatment system in the village. This needs to be looked into.

It is always one step forward and two steps back for rural Ireland. Belgooly is in a similar situation. For years, locals have been crying out for their water problems to be addressed and their water system to be brought up to standard. Typically, a huge promise was made just before the last election. The Government is well used to that and the people of Belgooly are too. The election came and went and there has been no delivery. How much longer will the people of Belgooly have to wait?

This is a problem throughout west Cork. According to Irish Water, Castletownbere, Castletownshend and Goleen are among five towns and villages in County Cork with substandard treatment plants. Untreated sewage is currently discharged into the water. These are all major problems which are holding back the development of houses in rural towns and villages.

The Rebuilding Ireland scheme could have made a difference to the housing crisis and helped to get people on the property ladder. Instead, it was a scheme that was launched without adequate resources on the ground to deal with the number of applicants. Reports indicate that 50% of applicants are rejected, which is outrageous. I am in blue in face from asking the Government to deliver on promises it made during the programme for Government. During the talks on Government formation, a rural resettlement scheme was discussed. As the housing crisis is only getting worse, there was never a better time to promote actively the concept of rural resettlement. The scheme has been rolled out in County Clare and we can see how it worked there. It could work anywhere, perhaps even in west Cork as well, but there has not been any activity on the ground to resolve the issue. Year after year thousands are being added to the waiting list. The situation is scandalous beyond belief.

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