Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's comments on the likely progress in Northern Ireland. I think we all welcome it.

However, in terms of housing, there is simply not enough progress from Government nor is there enough ambition or urgency in the delivery of housing. I listened carefully to the Taoiseach's response on housing and I am glad that he said that the Government will take Opposition suggestions on board. Two years ago, we put forward a Bill to protect renters and provide for greater legal security for renters. The Government has not worked with us to progress that Bill. We are again asking the Taoiseach to do so to ensure stronger protections for renters because that is an essential part of addressing the housing crisis. It is a crisis that is biting and affecting every household. Every one of us has had experience of meeting constituents and people coming up to us on the street - it happened to me again at the weekend out canvassing - and telling us ,"I may be okay but my adult children will never be able to afford a home in Dublin in the current circumstances." That is what is driving people to emigrate. That is what is thwarting and stunting people's growth and development - the growth and development of our younger generation. We are simply not seeing the sort of delivery. Even in respect of the Taoiseach's figures, just one in 50 of the 6,300 applications for the vacant property refurbishment grants have been drawn down while renters' rights remain far too weak. When will the Government act to ensure we have stronger renters' rights in law and when will it announce those revised upwards housing targets so we can see the necessary scale of ambition to deliver the homes we need?

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