Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Labour Party on the opportunity to highlight in this House the housing crisis. It is also welcome to hear that the Government is not opposing the motion. I will start by referring to the recent review by the UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which found that there is a persistent gap between housing demand and supply that is disproportionately affecting the most marginalised and disadvantaged, and that a lack of social housing has forced households to move into the private rental sector, which we know is inadequate in terms of affordability, habitability, accessibility and security of tenure. Of the properties inspected in County Clare last year, almost 94% failed.

The report also expressed concern over "the persistence of homelessness" in Ireland and highlighted an absence of comprehensive measures to protect tenants living in poverty and to prevent forced evictions, and a lack of culturally appropriate housing for Travellers.

The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, will be aware that I have raised the necessity to ban no-fault evictions on many occasions in this House. We know that seven out of ten evictions in Ireland are no-fault and nine out of every ten tenancy terminations are landlord-led. The Minister of State must outline why we are going to continue to be the outlier on no-fault evictions and the reason for the refusal to introduce the necessary ban.

I say that not just on my own behalf but on behalf of people at home listening to the debate who may have received a notice to quit. In my constituency of Clare, there was a 40% increase in notices to quit being issued at the end of the disastrously inadequate eviction moratorium last year.

I am currently dealing with a large volume of constituents who have received notices to quit. Clare County Council stated at its last council meeting that it is assisting 50 clients and because there is no emergency accommodation capacity it advises people to stay with family. However, that is not the solution.

I am aware that ten affordable housing projects have been approved so far for County Clare. Two submissions are with the Minister and we are waiting to hear about their approval. There is a necessity to speed up the application process.

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