Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are all aware that the current rates of rent are just not sustainable for most working families and those who rely on HAP and other assistance payments. They can be genuinely exploitative. Analysis of recent trends in the Irish residential sales market for the first quarter of this year showed the biggest year-on-year increases in the country are in my own county of Offaly which increased by almost 18%. The Government points to the programme for Government commitment to develop a new cost-rental housing sector in Ireland in which rents charged will be set to cover the costs of delivering, managing and maintaining the homes. It states a number of work strands are under way to deliver cost-rental housing using local authorities' expertise, the Land Development Agency and approved housing bodies. However, in my constituency, one approved housing body, Respond, has received €245 million since 2016 yet cannot fix basic insulation problems for residents of Chesterfield Close in Birr. I have brought this to the Minister of State's attention because it warrants urgent intervention. It is not acceptable that people cannot have their windows and doors replaced. Some 26 different houses and apartments are affected. Questions need to be answered about the amount Respond gets while being unwilling to put the money into maintenance, with tenants suffering as a result. I accept there will need to be constitutional advice from the Attorney General around the balancing of rights between landlords and tenants.

Eviction has already been raised during this debate, and I will do so again. We need to tackle the mindset around eviction in this country. I was astounded to receive an email at the weekend on a serious matter of a threatened eviction of an elderly lady who happens to be the mother of a senior journalist with Midlands 103. That family sent an email to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, about this situation but have not received a response. The case is not in the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage but I ask that he intervene. There are questions to be answered. We must also make sure HIQA is doing what it is supposed to do about nursing homes. Evictions are a cultural problem that do not only exist in our housing sector but also other residential areas such as nursing homes where it is now being threatened. I hope the Minister for Health will act on it but I am raising it here because it is so serious.

My constituency of Laois-Offaly has grappled with rising rents. I have been calling for an extension of the rent pressure zones and I previously welcomed the designation of Tullamore as a new rent pressure zone in the last year or so but we must do more to tackle rents. Many young couples cannot afford to buy a house and do not qualify for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan. They are falling between two stools because they do not qualify for social housing. We need affordable housing schemes in the county and to ensure every area of the State is looked after. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that young couples are given a fair chance to buy their first home. We need measures that will bring about housing solutions and affordable housing.

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