Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before I begin, I wish to declare that I am a property owner. Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an mBille tábhachtach seo. When I looked back to Deputy Ó Broin's contribution on First Stage of the Bill a few weeks ago, I was struck by the reference to data that showed that, in 2011, the total number of children classified as homeless was 641. Shockingly, that figure now stands at 3,000. As the Deputy pointed out, there has been a horrifying 429% increase in the number of children presenting as homeless, which is, of course, a gross underestimate as not all homeless children are captured in the official data. Parents come into my constituency offices in Offaly and Laois full of anxiety about this matter. It is heartbreaking and frustrating to witness it day after day. It is the single biggest issue with which we, as TDs, deal in our constituency offices. This clearly highlights that something has gone catastrophically wrong in the past decade.

I am not sure, however, whether mitigating measures such as that proposed in the Bill will harm or help the recovery from this position of social wreckage. Eviction bans or suspensions are temporary measures at best. I am deeply concerned and fearful that the constant or routine introduction of these types of measures will create further levels of uncertainty within the housing sector, eventually leading to an even greater exodus of property owners from the market. There is also a key constitutional issue at stake here, namely, the right of private property owners to exercise their rights without undue interference from the State. We must support small-scale property owners to stay in the sector. It is crucial they stay in the sector in order that there is a rental market. We must not force them out, however good the intentions. I have no doubt the Bill is well intentioned but the reality and outcomes may not be what we expect. They could actually make things worse for tenants, and no one wants to see that happening.

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