Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is only right the Dáil gets an opportunity to debate these issues as regularly as possible. My colleague, Deputy Naughten, raised the important issue of private landlords refusing to refund rents to students who were forced to attend colleges by means of an online course and, therefore, did not require accommodation. It is not right that these landlords, many of which avail of the Government's support schemes during this current pandemic, refuse to refund rent deposits to students. This is happening in every part of country and I have dealt with several of these cases in Dundalk. Even third level colleges and universities have tried to do the same. The Government needs to look at this issue. As my colleagues have suggested, those who avail of the Government's support schemes while refusing to refund students must repay any supports they receive.

I run a constituency office in Dundalk which is pretty busy, the same as that of every other Deputy. For the past ten years, successive Governments have failed to address the housing situation. It is time we all worked together and put all party-political considerations behind us to tackle the housing crisis. I find it annoying I have people attending my constituency office who cannot get a council house. In Dundalk, a two-bedroom house in a council estate is currently for rent for €1,400 a month. The council sold this house several years ago to a landlord who is now charging this rent. What chance has a normal family to afford a house? If a family got a mortgage from a bank, they would pay between €800 and €900 a month, which is affordable. This does not make any sense.

Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, is looking for technological university status. Up to 5,000 students attend DkIT from the surrounding counties, Louth, Meath and Monaghan. However, 80% of their parents never got an opportunity to attend third level education. With SUSI and other grants, their children now have an opportunity to make something of themselves.

I have known the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for several years now. There are 100 vacant local authority houses in Dundalk. It makes no sense whatsoever that they should be vacant. The local authority blames the Government, claiming it will not give it the funding to restore these houses. Many people attend my constituency office on Mondays and Fridays who are willing, along with their friends and families, to get these houses up and running. I know many people who bought their own house and gave up their council house or cases where the local authority tenant passed away. These council houses could be vacant for between 12 to 18 months at a minimum, falling into disrepair with the radiators, for example, stolen, with burst pipes and so on. It makes no commonsense whatsoever.

All we need is someone to grab the Government, the local authorities and others by the scruff of their necks and make simple solutions. People need houses and people need homes. That is all they want. Children come to me with their parents and all they ask is for me to get them a home. It makes no sense whatsoever as if you walk down the main streets of Dundalk, you can see the large number of shops that have vacant facilities above them.

As for us not having enough money, we have had a very hard time in this country over the past 12 months. Despite this, we were able to find not millions but billions to help us to get back up on our feet again. All people want is to get an education and I ask the Government to help them get an education. People want a roof over their heads and I ask the Government to put a roof over their heads. People want a health system where they can still get treatment even if they have not got money or health insurance. These things are simple facts. It is about time all the parties in this House got together and all voted together for the good of people in Ireland. Let us give people an education. Let us give them their health. Most of all, please let us give families an opportunity to have a roof over their heads.

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