Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Simon Communities, which provide a vital service to people experiencing homelessness throughout Ireland and, in particular, in my own area of the south-east region since 2004. Their unwavering commitment to justice and equality and to protecting some of the most vulnerable people at risk in our communities cannot be underestimated. These pillars of equality and justice are evident in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021, which we are discussing tonight.

Homelessness challenges the nation’s moral compass because we cannot ignore the fact that, in our modern era, one of the main causes of families being put out in the street is the enormous rise in rents which simply equates to greed and avarice by vulture funds and wealthy investors. In my own county of Wexford, there were 767 calls to the homeless service and support unit between January and November of this year. According to the Government's own figures, there were 23 individuals recorded as homeless in County Wexford as of the last week of October this year. However, we know that this figure is far greater because it does not include sofa-surfers or citizens living temporarily in relatives’ or friends’ houses.

This Bill will provide a buffer zone to protect people who are facing an immediate threat of becoming homeless. If passed, it will provide for the automatic extension of notice periods for residential tenancies where a tenant is certified as being at risk of homelessness and, crucially, will allow a local authority to directly engage for a three-month period with a person or family at risk of homelessness.

I know from my own experience on the ground that notices to quit are alarmingly on the rise and are responsible for creating a high percentage of homelessness or risk of homelessness. Until the Government gets to grips with the private rental market and the financial forces that run it, it will continue to fail in addressing this problem. The Bill proposes a change which would act as a barrier and protection factor for those who find themselves in dire straits and gives greater assistance to the local authorities’ housing departments, whose hands are often tied behind their backs as they try to support families and children in desperation and facing homelessness almost at the eleventh hour. This must change.

I again commend the Simon Communities, my colleague Deputy Ó Broin and all of my colleagues in this House who have supported this Bill to this point. I welcome the Government’s support but it must be followed up by immediate action.

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