Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Once again we are debating the critical situation that many families and individuals find themselves in when it comes to putting a roof over their heads. It is truly frightening for many people and families. They are fearful, even if they do not have a notice to quit. They are worried that if one arrives, they will have nowhere to go. In my own constituency of Sligo-Leitrim the CEO of North West Simon Community, Mr. Noel Day, said that homelessness in the north west has increased by over 50% year on year, from 2022 to 2023. This is not Dublin or Galway or a major city; this is the north west. These figures do not include the hidden homeless, the people who are couch surfing, those in tents and makeshift arrangements and those aged in their mid-30s and 40s who are still living at home. This gives some sense of the extent of the problem and with the ending of the eviction ban, it is just getting worse.

Equally, there are those who want to buy their own homes but when they look at prices, at supply and at the cost of renting in the interim, so many know that they will not be able to save enough to get a deposit. For those who manage to save enough for their deposit, their chances of buying a home are very poor because of the lack of supply.

While I agree with most of this motion, I have some reservations about the call to scrap the first-time affordable purchase shared equity scheme and the help-to-buy scheme because so many people have used these schemes to help them to buy their first home. If a scheme is delivering for some people, albeit not for everybody, in that price bracket, I would like to see it remain in place.

I also wonder whether there is an anti-rural issue here because many rural homes are not part of any housing scheme and the help to buy scheme can certainly help some of those home buyers. Maybe diverting that money into more affordable housing might give better outcomes but I have seen no analysis of this. I would like to hear what that perspective is. There are certain schemes in place that are helping to deliver some homes. That is important for every single family that gets a home.

Finally, I will say that I am totally perplexed as to why we are not building the maximum number of modular homes. Seven or eight weeks ago I raised this issue here with the Government. A German company has an agent in Cookstown. My colleague, Deputy Fitzmaurice, travelled there to look at these modular homes and at the possibilities of getting these homes on stream as soon as possible. I am not touting for any company. I fully understand that we have a proper tendering process. However, these modular homes are coming in at €75,000 for a three-bedroom home. They are manufactured in Germany. They are all over Europe. They are selling them as far away as Texas at the moment. I am informed that we could have as many as 50 three-bedroom modular homes on stream. There is a real sense of urgency here but I do not see it.

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