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

I will start by acknowledging the movement that has taken place. However, I must note a couple of other facts. There are issues around the general maintenance of local authority housing. That is also extremely slow. I know of one flats complex with three flats that have been lying vacant not just for weeks but for months. There does not seem to be any movement on those. I know they have to be refurbished to a certain standard. However I have been in state-of-the-art flats and houses whose tenants have left for various reasons where everything is ripped out again. Some common sense is needed.

There are increasing difficulties for housing assistance payment, HAP, tenants trying to stay in the properties they are renting. It goes back to what Deputy Boyd Barrett was talking about, namely, that vulture funds come in and take over these buildings and there is absolutely no doubt that they want to get rid of HAP tenants.

I return to the issue of student accommodation. I know it is not part of this question. According to one statistic I saw recently, 79% of the student accommodation is for international students. I would not deny these students a place to stay, but this is not helping the housing situation. I note the ease, quickness and urgency with which student accommodation was built. We do not see the same urgency when it comes to refurbishing local authority housing and making progress on the housing waiting list.

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