Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

County Kerry is not included in the affordable homes scheme, contrary to what the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, told me. The cost of buying a house in Killarney or anywhere around it is between €350,000 and €500,000. On top of that, it is impossible for people who want to build their own homes to get planning permission.

Family income supplement is denying people the ability to remain on housing waiting lists because they are being thrown off such lists if they are in receipt of it, having been on those lists for nine or ten years. That is totally unfair in this day and age. People cannot live without the family income supplement, yet are being thrown off the housing list.

I want to raise the issue of the cap in County Kerry. It seems it has been raised in other counties, but what is wrong with Kerry? It needs to be increased. We are outside of the Pale, but the cap has to be increased in Kerry because throwing people off the housing list is not doing anything for those who need a home.

Single applicants in Killarney are on the list for 14, 15 or 16 years before they get a house. That is the gospel truth. There are no four-bedroom houses in Killarney for applicants and landlords are leaving the market. It is very unfair that people who have been on the housing waiting list for nine or ten years and have three children but are in receipt of family income supplement are thrown off the housing list. I ask the Minister of State to do something about that. It will not cost the Government anything.

People have not been allowed to buy a council house since 2015. There are 150 voids in Kerry, including 30 in Killarney, yet the Government will not provide money to put them in order so that they can be rented out.

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