Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tonight we debate the homelessness crisis plaguing Ireland. It is a crisis that has been growing for more than a decade with no real solution in sight. It is a crisis that is being ignored by politicians and policymakers in government, who have failed to provide any meaningful action to tackle it. It is a crisis that is destroying the lives of thousands of people across the country. I notice it every weekend in my clinics. The rising trend is homelessness and the scary part is some of these cases could be a marriage break-up or whatever. In a lot of cases people are sleeping in vans and cars. I have found a huge increase even in the last three or four months. Another trend is what is called couch-surfing.

I heard the Minister of State's colleague saying earlier the Government brought in the €500 credit for people renting. I know of a young lady in west Cork who tried to get this credit only to be told she cannot, as she is renting from her parents. This was all done above board; her parents are registered with the RTB. We have been told she cannot get this credit. The false explanation behind the prohibition for tenancies of this nature is that if such arrangements were allowed qualify for the relief, it would leave the tax credit open to possible manipulation, where parents and their children could collude to create a tax advantage for either party which was not warranted. It is crazy. Anyone, regardless of relationship, could manipulate the situation if they really wanted to.

It is sad to see we are miles behind our counterparts in other countries. I encourage the Minister to continue the eviction ban because people are calling to me and they are fierce worried. They have got letters. Of course, it has been held up for the last six months and that is a relief to them but their worry is this will be reactivated in the very near future, which will cause serious danger. My colleague, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, mentioned the Airbnbs. This a crisis the Government is making in this sector, which did not need to be there. It was a welcome relief for people that they could stay in communities when they went on holiday. Now it looks like there will be planning regulations and everything in respect of the person who is doing a bit of Airbnb, which is going to land people in crisis.

I always mention planning for young people in rural Ireland, which is a huge difficulty. There is no bother building houses without planning permission when the Government sets aside time to do so but when it comes to building a one-off rural housing, planning is refused.

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