Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There was a lot of heat and light, and some nonsense, generated from some TDs over the past two weeks in relation to this issue. I have heard some TDs saying that some tenants will require four years' notice and that the State would come in and issue compulsorily purchase orders, CPOs, on all of these houses. Whether they were concerned with voting to extend the ban or to retain it, there were some strange attempts to divorce themselves from the consequence of their own actions and they attacked Sinn Féin to distract from these consequences.

One hundred and twenty eviction notices will fall due in County Kerry unless our measure is passed. There is little room for prevarication now when the stakes are so high for so many. Speaking to housing officers in Kerry County Council, I hear that the system is already under immense strain. They are under severe pressure and it is like organised chaos.

In my office, my team has heard a number of concerning stories already in Kerry with the ban set to expire. We had contact from one mother of four children who was told that she had to leave by her landlord. She had no options and is terrified that she will end up homeless. Once that happens, it is difficult to see a path back to stable housing for her so long as current Government policies continue. A woman in her 80s was in touch with my office. She was given notice a while back now but with the increased competition for housing and rent prices, she has nowhere to go. These stories will keep on coming over the next few weeks and months.

There has not been a single affordable house built in County Kerry in the past few years and there were 56 adults accessing homeless accommodation in January of this year. On the scheme that was introduced last year, no communication was made to Kerry County Council. When they complained about it, the Taoiseach said that it was a cop-out by Kerry County Council. Without the guidance or management from Central Government, none of the rented accommodation was purchased. The length of time for conveyances did not seem to be taken into account at all.

These figures might seem relatively small but for a rural and isolated county with little resources, the 120 eviction notices, representing probably at least three times the current number of people homeless, represents a huge challenge. When those on HAP or direct provision but eligible to leave are included, the figures are even higher.

In a market where upward pressure is so high, the reality is that the single mothers, the elderly, migrants, disabled and those least able to absorb rent increases will miss out. It will see them filling up emergency accommodation unless the measure passes. There is no getting away from it.

I repeat my call for all Kerry TDs to support this legislation.

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