Dáil debates

Wednesday, 29 September 2021

Housing for All: Statements (Resumed)

 

3:07 pm

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Housing for All strategy and compliment the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his colleagues for bringing this programme forward. It is one that has the potential to tackle the major housing crisis that affects this country at present significantly and very well. It is the largest State-led building programme in Irish history. I welcome the fact that there is an emphasis on the need for local authorities to build houses, not buy or lease them, in the future. There is a clear message about building new homes.

I also welcome the town centre first aspect of the plan. All Members are aware of dereliction and of the existing vacant premises and vacant homes that can be brought back to use. I welcome it in particular because it will bring multiple benefits from the point of view of bringing life back to town and village centres and using existing services. There are demands for housing in those areas. The Minister indicated through the Housing for All strategy that the Department will provide strong support for compulsory purchase orders for derelict sites to enable urban development. I understand from speaking to local authority officials that councils will be in a position to buy suitable lands for development adjacent to towns and villages. Often local authorities have faced cash flow problems so it is a welcome measure that the Department will fund such purchases. The local authorities can know that they will have the necessary resources to buy suitable lands. In particular, I welcome the fact that there will be strong support for local authorities to remove derelict properties and to build or restore housing. The multi-annual, multibillion euro programme has the potential to deliver housing to deal with the very serious problems that have existed over the last number of years.

Earlier, I listened to my colleagues, Deputies Jim O'Callaghan and Costello. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan spoke about social solidarity and the right of people to have access to quality homes. Deputy Costello made that point as well. We are not talking about building houses, but about building homes. On many occasions in this Chamber over the years I have spoken about the great social housing policies we had for decades, since the 1930s, whereby there was a great mix of people in different local authorities. Unfortunately, in recent years we have been losing that mix because of inadequate income eligibility limits. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has often heard me outline in the House the totally unacceptable income eligibility limits in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan. Deputy Murnane O'Connor has spoken similarly as well. Small amendments are needed to the tenant purchase scheme. I outlined the case of people on a social welfare payment who have the resources, through family support or whatever, but are not allowed to buy their homes. That is wrong.

I saw the report that the director of housing in Cavan, Mr. Eoin Doyle, gave to the local authority recently. The council will build 500 houses over the next number of years. That is a very substantial development in a small rural county. It will mean more than doubling the built house provision over the last five years. That is very welcome.

With regard to the voids programme, in 2019 Cavan brought 29 houses back to habitable use. In 2020, the local authority brought 70 houses that were vacant back to habitable use, and this year 90 houses will be restored to habitable use. That is putting public funding to very good use. I sincerely hope the Department will continue that policy. These are houses where services exist and where there is a demand for housing. It is giving a vote of confidence to many estates that suffered due to dereliction in the past. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that a good, strong voids programme continues into the future. I know the value of it for local small contractors. There are 11 small contracting firms in my county engaged in local authority repair and building work at present, so it is giving local employment as well.

Another aspect of Housing for All is the need for investment in infrastructure. In my county, Irish Water has been far too slow to advance projects relating to a major sewerage scheme in Ballyjamesduff and in Virginia. That has complicated housing applications and has delayed the provision of housing. We must ensure that Irish Water is resourced to eliminate any delays in that respect. Further problems will arise in Kingscourt and Bailieborough, areas where there is great demand for housing.

I hope that a clear message can be given to local authorities to build houses in the smaller towns and villages. All of us represent such areas. There is already a social infrastructure there and there are educational and sporting facilities. A dozen houses in smaller towns and villages can mean a great deal to those communities. It would be a very good investment and there will be people who will want those houses.

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