Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also raise the national issue of housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies and inspections being restricted because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the last year in Dublin, 10,500 homes were inspected for basic human needs, namely, adequate water, light, etc. Some 76% of these homes failed the inspections. I welcome the change the Minister made in the regulations requiring landlords to provide photographs of damage and the issues that have to be addressed before homes can be considered to meet the basic minimum living requirements.

These are appalling cases. This week, I was contacted by a woman with young children regarding accommodation where the roof was literally falling in. Nothing was being done by the landlord and the county council did not have the capacity to visit. It took me, as a Deputy, to contact the housing manager in the county council to get the matter resolved. I support the Minister's commitment to change in this area and the funding being provided to local authorities to fast-track the inspection of homes through the photographic method, and also making those homes safe and available with the basic minimum standards required.

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