Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Since Friday, the Labour Party has called for a ban on evictions and rent increases to be reinstated in Dublin after the move to level 3 restrictions. In July, we tabled an amendment to the Government's emergency renters Bill that would have given the Minister power for public health reasons to reintroduce protections for renters in the event of a second wave. This is an area I am familiar with as somebody who introduced restrictions on rent increases for a number of years.

Similar powers were granted in other Bills. It says everything about the Government's approach that renters seem to be at the bottom of the pile as far as it is concerned. We need emergency legislation. We need to have foresight on this. This will be a real issue. Debts will start to be crystallised. People will be out on the streets. We want a ban on evictions. We want the Government to do something on this quickly. The changes the Minister introduced will only give protection until January for those who can prove they have been financially impacted by a limited set of circumstances. It is quite a complicated process. I ask the Taoiseach to look at this. We need to protect these people. We cannot have people being thrown out during this time. I ask the Taoiseach to examine the circumstances affecting the legislation that was introduced and amend it. In effect, the Government can do it through that process.

The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government recently announced €40 million to refurbish 2,500 vacant properties, voids.

There are a significant number of properties, as I know from researching the matter, that have been left vacant for a considerable period of time. Why were they left vacant for so long? The target for social housing construction this year is 7,736 units, inclusive of housing provided by local authorities and approved housing bodies, under regeneration schemes and under the Part V provisions. What is the Taoiseach's projection as of today's date for how many council homes will be built? It was also proposed to buy 800 properties and lease 2,631 properties, for a total social housing target of 11,000 units. Will the Taoiseach give the House the updated figures in this regard as of today?

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