Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In response to the comments of Deputy Kelly and others, I do not think there is any surprise that the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government is meeting approximately a month after the Government was formed. I met very quickly after the formation of the Government with the Minister and his Secretary General to discuss a range of issues, including homelessness and preparations for the July stimulus programme, particularly in respect of voids. I wanted specific funding for that and the Minister included it in the July stimulus programme. That funding will allow local authorities to bring approximately 2,000 council houses back into operation and in which people may be able to live before the end of the year. That funding was provided in the July stimulus programme, in addition to funding for water infrastructure and the help-to-buy scheme which will help those who are endeavouring to buy a house. The Minister also had to deal with rates relief which was separate to the housing issue but also fell under his policy remit.

Of course, the first weeks of this Government have been spent dealing with Covid-19 and the July stimulus programme, which is a €5.2 billion programme of expenditure and tax that seeks to give a lifeline to the Irish economy during this time. I do not think that the housing committee not meeting until 30 July is a big deal. It is a reasonable timeframe and does not mean that the Government has not been engaging on housing issues. We have been doing so, particularly through the Cabinet sub-committee dealing with the July stimulus programme.

I would also say that homelessness is on a downward trajectory in part due to the rent freeze and eviction moratorium but also due to the fact that more than 1,000 extra units were provided in Dublin alone, with up to 1,400 units provided nationally, for the homeless during the Covid crisis. That had a big impact. One of the good stories, if one can use that phrase, during this crisis has been the low level of infection among the homeless and that the virus did not spread into settings where one might have anticipated. That is a result of the great work of all those in NGOs, the HSE and local authorities who work for homeless people. People have worked collectively to avoid the spread of the virus within homeless settings.

The other key factor in that downward trajectory is the fact that more and more properties are now becoming available. We have for the first time seen the impact of Airbnb on property in Dublin and other cities. I have said to the Minister that an opportunity now exists to purchase and access vacant leases and properties, as Deputy Boyd Barrett also said, with a view to keeping homeless figures down and to get proper, fit for purpose accommodation for people who need housing. There has been a decline in Airbnb properties and a consequent increase in the supply of available properties because of Covid-19. That represents an opportunity that needs to be grasped to try to get more people houses more quickly.

In the context of the point made by Deputy Kelly, the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Housing, Planning and Local Government are on the housing Cabinet sub-committee. It is important that they work with local authorities and I know that the relevant Minister has been in touch to discuss working with them. I think that was the point the Deputy was making.

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