Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for again raising what everybody in this House knows is such an important matter. I said previously that the decision to end the eviction moratorium was one of the most difficult and complex I have ever been involved in as a member of the Cabinet, but I am acutely aware and can see in my constituency that whatever difficulty was involved in making the decision was minor by comparison with the difficulty some encounter and are encountering due to the consequences of the decision. I am well aware, before the State exams begin next week, of how deeply sensitive the matter is for parents who are worried about where they and their families will be living later in the year. I am also aware of all those who have been affected by the consequences of the decision during the year. Even at this point, however, it is still important to emphasise the rationale for the introduction of the moratorium and why the Government believes, on balance, that it was right to bring it to an end.

It was brought in during an exceptionally difficult period as we approached Christmas and beyond when the Government knew that further steps needed to be taken to strengthen emergency accommodation and make more housing available across what could have been an even more difficult period for many renters.

It was our view, having considered the issue, that the moratorium's extension would have had two consequences. First, it would have led to even fewer people deciding to become landlords in our society in the years ahead. Second, ending the moratorium at a different time would have created the risk of even more renters, including families, being affected by the loss of rental accommodation. It is for these reasons, on balance, that we believed it was the right, but we accept difficult, decision to make.

I join the Deputy in saying that it is not the role of the private sector solely to provide rental accommodation. That is why we have made funding available to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and our local authorities to provide additional housing. The figures need to be emphasised: the Government is committed to delivering 11,800 social housing units this year; resources have been committed to putting in place more leased units; and steps are being taken to support approved housing bodies in providing more accommodation. The new accommodation that is being opened by Dublin City Council on Dominick Street in my constituency and the new accommodation that is being provided near Collins Barracks by approved housing bodies show that the Government is doing anything but leaving the provision of rental and social accommodation to the private market. It is a case of an active State meeting the needs of those who require support while knowing we always need to do more.

See this speech in context