Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government is pretty thin gruel when you sit down and look at it. There are commitments to "examine", "consider", "evaluate" and "assess". Where the people of Ireland would have hoped for a significant radical shift in some areas of policy to resolve the challenges we face, particularly in housing and health, they were met with a programme for Government that resembled nothing so much as a question mark rather than definite statements.

One particular area over which there may be something of a question - I hope the Government can offer some reassurance on it - is regarding ending the means test for carer's allowance. This was a significant election issue. It was a proposal brought forward by Sinn Féin as well as other political parties before being adopted by the Government in the later weeks of the election campaign. Simon Harris, in particular, placed great emphasis on it. It is important to remember that carers do the crucial work they do, not out of any expectation or because they are looking for payment or anything else but out of love and a sense of responsibility. They deserve respect and recognition but also support. There is no other payment made by the Department of Social Protection or any other Department under which people are obligated to work for at least 35 hours a week but may not work more than 18.5 hours outside the home.

These are people who put in the hours providing care for their loved ones and get nothing at all or very little in return. In the programme for Government there is talk about the Government continuing to significantly increase the income disregards for carer's allowance in each budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this Government. In my view, that is a watering down in terms of language. It is crucial that the Government makes it very clear what the roadmap is for the ending of the means test for carer's allowance. That is not only the right thing to do but the wise thing to do to ensure the sustainability of our system of family care.

Another area that the programme for Government is not even so much quiet on but silent on is the regeneration of flat and apartment complexes outside Dublin city centre. In Cork city and other areas too, I am sure, there are huge issues in terms of the regeneration of flat and apartment complexes. In Togher, at Togher Road, Clashduv Road, Sycamore Place, Hazel Road, Cherry Tree Road and Maple Place, and in Desmond Square, Peter Street, Francis Street and several other locations across the city, these apartment complexes have gone well beyond their lifespans. The conditions in them are not good enough. In some instances, there is subsidence. There is a great deal of cold and damp. There have also been issues with rodent infestations in some blocks. There are issues with loose masonry. Iron bars surrounding balconies have rusted and are jagged and dangerous to children because of the condition they are in. There is a dire need for the regeneration of these complexes. Unlike the report of the Housing Commission, the programme for Government is completely silent on the issue of apartment complexes outside Dublin. There is nothing at all in this regard. I hope the Government will rectify it because these apartment complexes need a complete overhaul. The Housing Commission recognised that. We need to see urgent action in this regard.

Regarding housing generally, if the rates of increase in house prices, rents and homelessness continue during the lifetime of this Government in the same way as they did during the last Government, I dread to think what kind of housing crisis we will have. It continues to escalate. In my view, if the Government keeps on taking the same policies, adding fuel to the fire with house prices and throwing renters into the fire, the situation will only get worse.

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