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

Once again, the RTÉ soap opera is distracting vital attention from the disastrous situation facing those who are at the mercy of our broken housing system. Right now, 13,531 people are recorded as homeless, including more than 4,000 children, and 18,000 homes are being advertised for short lets on Airbnb, while just 2,000 are available on Daft.ie for longer term rents. Rents are skyrocketing far in excess of the legal limits under rent pressure zone legislation. Prospective home buyers in Dublin now need, on average, a combined salary of €127,000, far more than median incomes in Ireland. The cost to so many and to our society of this omnishambles cannot be overstated.

I recently spoke to and heard from a man in his 60s who has been on the housing list for decades. He was taken off the list after he got married because his family income had risen over the limit by just €100. Subsequently, his spouse had to stop working to provide care for a family member and they went back on the list. After some difficulty, today they are renting with the housing assistance payment. This man, who is now retired, has been told by a council official that he will not get a home for more than 12 years. In his own words, he believes he will be dead before they get a place. He and his partner remain in fear of eviction. They have no housing security into older age. His is just one story but it is an important one to tell because his experience underscores the desperate need for action and shows the turmoil caused by the Government's broken housing model.

Tomorrow morning, there is a chance for change. This House will debate a Labour Party motion which sets out a clear plan to change policy and approach and to ensure delivery of homes to buy and stronger protection for those renting.

A change of approach is badly needed. The Government's policies are lacking, its reactions are slow and its ambition is too low. Even the plans the Government has in place are just not working; they are seriously wanting.

This morning, I reviewed the capital that went unspent by the Government in 2023 on housing. Something struck me immediately. Once again, the Minister for housing, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, did not spend his capital budget. In fact, he underspent by €141 million. Based on average construction costs, with that money, the Department could have delivered more than 450 extra homes last year. Spending on the secure tenancies affordable rental scheme also fell short by €20 million, or approximately 100 extra cost-rental homes which could have been delivered. There were similar underspends in respect of urban renewal, regeneration and public housing.

The Government's policies and its the overreliance on the private sector mean that it is incapable of delivering the homes we need. It seems that the Government is not spending enough, even on the schemes that are in place.

What is the Government doing for renters, such as, for example, older people who are trapped in insecurity into old age? What is it doing to tackle the disproportionate levels of short-term lettings and to bring Airbnb properties back into the housing market. Why has the Minister for housing consistently failed to spend his capital budget each year since he took office, resulting in the failure to deliver so many homes that could otherwise have been supplied?

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