Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are again discussing the housing crisis, which is continually and consistently getting worse in every part of the country. The homeless figure now stands at 12,500. This is a serious underestimation because it does not take into account all the people who are sleeping in their parents' box rooms, sofa-surfing in their friends' houses or sleeping on the streets.

Housing is the reason that so many of our young people are emigrating to Australia, Canada and America. They cannot afford to live here. The cost of rent is making it unaffordable for them. Yesterday a father who came to my office told me he and his wife work hard, pay their taxes and have made the necessary sacrifices to ensure their children are well-educated. Now those children are leaving this country because they cannot afford to live here. I had two families contact me recently about loved ones who are awaiting services at the rehabilitation hospital in Dún Laoghaire. The waiting list there is three to six months. When I contacted the rehabilitation hospital, I was told it cannot employ staff. The reason for this is because the staff cannot afford to live in Dún Laoghaire. They are going elsewhere in Ireland and elsewhere abroad.

Young people cannot get a mortgage. If they go to the bank, they cannot show a record of saving because the rents they pay are extortionate. Why can the banks not take into account the fact that people are paying anything from €1,500 to €2,000 a month in rent? This is probably about double what they would have to repay on a mortgage if it were given to them. Let them get their foot on the property ladder.

Recently the rent of a couple in Cavan, one of whom is working, with one child went from €700 per month to €1,250. The man is in receipt of the housing assistance payment. He went to the council, which is to review that payment. This will take months because the council is under-resourced and inundated with queries relating to housing. What is this man supposed to do in the months it will take to review whether he is entitled to an additional payment?

The rent of another woman is about to increase. She is already receiving the housing assistance payment from the council and already getting the 20% discretionary payment. The council cannot do any more for her. In fact, Cavan County Council is telling people not to rent anywhere for more than €900 because it will not pay the housing assistance payment on anything over that. There is nothing available for less than €900.

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