Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 5:

To insert the following after "increased capacity in the construction sector": "further calls on the Government to:

—remove barriers for older people in long-term nursing home care who wish to lease out their homes, effective from 1st May, 2023;

—increase the refurbishment grant rate for the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund Scheme, to reflect current building costs, effective from 1st May, 2023;

—extend the Croí Cónaithe scheme to include properties which are made available for rent and not just owner-occupied, effective from 1st May, 2023;

—revise the Croí Cónaithe scheme to include properties built prior to 2007, effective from 1st May, 2023;

—extend the Rent-a-Room Relief scheme to people receiving social welfare payments who rent out a room so that they do not lose supplementary benefits, such as the medical card, effective from 1st May, 2023;

—introduce in Budget 2024 a tax relief scheme to take effect in the current tax year for small landlords;

—amend the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to guarantee payment to landlords where the tenant defaults on payment of contribution to HAP, effective from 1st May, 2023; and

—immediately engage with site owners who have obtained planning permission under the Strategic Infrastructure Development and have not yet commenced building due to viability issues, in order to ensure immediate commencement of these projects under affordable housing schemes".

Our country is facing the worst housing crisis in a century. It is universally agreed that the main issue is housing supply. The Government has failed to address most significant issues that are creating supply constraints. Deputies from all parties in this House, including those from the Minister's party and Fine Gael, have indicated several steps the Government could take to increase supply. The Minister has refused to take on board those suggestions. The effect of motions such as these will not make a blind bit of difference to somebody who may face eviction in the next 12 weeks. Sinn Féin has tabled its motion and should it be successful, it will still not stop the removal of the ban on evictions.

Philip Ryan's article in today's Irish Independentsummed it up. Motions such as this play politics with the housing issue and with people's vulnerabilities. They achieve nothing. Notwithstanding this, the Regional Group put forward eight proposals in our amendment to the Government amendment in an effort to be constructive. These proposals are significant. If they had been implemented by this Government three years ago, we would not be in the position we are in today. They are designed to keep small landlords in the marketplace through the provision of tax relief; the introduction of provisions that make existing permissions viable, thereby unlocking access to some 70,000 housing units which currently have planning permission but have not commenced; the expansion of the rent-a-room scheme; and the amendment of the Croí Cónaithe scheme to augment supply immediately. The Government indicated earlier that it will accept these suggestions although it is not entirely clear from the amendment that was published this evening that this is the case. We need to engage further with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, on the amendment they proposed to the motion to ascertain whether it reflects the Regional Group's requirements.

I further await publication of the revised 2009 draft guidelines by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The application of these guidelines has been the main cause of the problems with the viability and delivery of housing. These amended guidelines will be central to unlocking supply.

Three generations of Irish people find themselves in a position where it is practically impossible to purchase a house to rear a family in. Thousands of people may face eviction in the next number of months. The housing crisis now affects foreign direct investment. However, we welcome the epiphany the Government had in accepting the significant amendments proposed today. I caution the Government that we require an undertaking that it will not merely accept our amendments but implement them. Fudging language in motions such as these will not give our constituents homes. We have talked the housing issue to death and meanwhile, hardworking people sleep in their cars or couch surf, and some of them even sleep in tents. It is a national disgrace. The actions, not the words, of the Government need to be unequivocal and immediate. Considering potential future policy positions is not satisfactory. We await further clarity on the immediacy of the Government's actions before committing to supporting the motion.

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