Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

All aspects of the housing system are broken. Whether it is first-time buyers trying to save for a house, those who are renting or on a housing list or those who, due to a change of family circumstances, need to move out and try to get a different property, there is so much we could talk about on housing that it is sometimes difficult to know on what to focus. This evening, I will focus on renters who do not qualify for assistance or supports. I am not talking about people on seriously high wages but, rather, people who are marginally over the threshold. I am talking about a family of two adults and two children who are struggling to pay rent of €1,350 every month and are €600 over the threshold for the whole year. They are at risk of homelessness because they end up having to borrow from family, friends, moneylenders or any other source they can access to try to pay their rent. They are not seen as being at risk of homelessness but it is clear they are very much at risk of it. I am talking about a family I know whose €20 weekly family income supplement puts them over the income limits. It beggars belief. I have to stop myself telling them to cancel their family income supplement. They need that money for their kids and the bills they have to pay but that €20 is what puts them over the weekly limit. That family, too, is made up of two adults and two children.

I will specifically focus on those who do not qualify for supports and are on a notice to quit or are struggling to pay extortionate rents. Those people have been thrown to the wolves. We have heard so much about this cost rental scheme but I do not know anyone who has qualified for it. Before the Minister or anyone else in government tries to blame local authorities, I make the point that they are not being given adequate resources. The same local authority staff are trying to deal with the homeless section, HAP allocations and HAP place finder and now they are supposed to do this as well. It is impossible for them to do so. Even if there were adequate staffing levels and the scheme was up and running sufficiently, not everybody would qualify for it because not all landlords are selling. Some of them are taking houses back for family or other reasons.

There are so many people right now who have no choice but to overhold their accommodation. That is not a good situation for anyone to be in. It is extremely stressful and worrying and it is not advice we want to give people but, for many of them, what else can they do? Where should they go? I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the motion because I have a direct question for the Minister. What will he do for people who do not qualify for supports, cannot go on the housing list, are marginally over the income thresholds and have nowhere to go in the coming weeks when their notices to quit are up?

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