Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also thank my colleague, Teachta Ó Broin, for bringing this Bill to the House. It provides a legal definition of "persons at risk of homelessness" and gives the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the local authorities the power to provide them with supports to prevent them becoming homeless. Prevention is better than cure.

Last week, a gentleman contacted my office to say that he had been given notice to leave his accommodation by this Thursday, which is one week before Christmas. This gentleman has a serious medical condition and he is renting a property under HAP with his daughter, who is his carer. The property failed its HAP inspection and the landlord was not bothered to carry out the necessary repairs. As the Minister can imagine, this gentleman is distraught. Unfortunately, he is not alone. The Minister mentioned complex health needs earlier. To my mind, this is such a case.

I am also assisting a woman who is pregnant and her family who were given 180 days' notice that their property, also rented under HAP, is being sold. Kildare County Council, which is in my constituency, will only assist them on the day they are made homeless.

Despite having six months' notice to prepare, the woman is applying for a home through choice-based letting, which is above her requirements. However, it is only above her requirements because the baby she is carrying is not yet born. It is due next week but Kildare County Council does not consider one's housing need until one has a PPS number.

I am particularly worried about the number of single people presenting as homeless. Last month, a gentleman with a long-term illness was discharged from Naas General Hospital with nowhere to go. He resorted to setting up a tent outside Kildare County Council and thanks to the assistance of the staff there, he was placed in emergency accommodation. We need to do a lot better for these people.

I commend the work of the Community Action Tenants Union, CATU. It has been successful in assisting tenants in getting their deposits back from rogue landlords and preventing illegal evictions. I encourage tenants in precarious situations to join their local union. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

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