Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tacaím leis an scéim tithíochta sóisialta do thionóntaí ar an láthair. Is scéim é a bhí ann go dtí seo - measaim gur chóir leanúint léi - chun déileáil leo siúd atá ar an liosta tithíochta sóisialta cheana féin agus atá faoi bhagairt go mbeidh siad gan dídean amach anseo. Níl ann ach píosa amháin de na céimeanna ar gá dóibh a bheith ann chun déileáil leis an ngéarchéim thithíochta agus a ligeann do chlanna seasmhacht a bheith acu ina saol seachas bata agus bóthar a bheith tugtha dóibh. I gcás a lán díobh siúd atá ag lorg tacaíochta óna leithéid de scéim, bíonn siad sna tithe ar feadh tréimhse cuibheasach fada agus bíonn siad ceangailte leis an gceantar ina bhfuil siad ag iarraidh fanacht. Others have spoken about the need to address this to ensure that there is less homelessness, but there is also a need for quicker decision-making. I listened to what the Minister of State said about the lack of refurbishment funding in this. That is absolutely ridiculous, given the situations in which many of these families find themselves. Many of these homes are not visited by local authorities because over the years, housing assistance payment, HAP, and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, have not been adequately addressed, yet these people are expected to stay in that accommodation.

I have one case of a 29-year-old with two autistic children who is paying privately for therapy because, once again, the State has failed her. Seven years into a HAP payment, however, no assessment has ever been done on her property. That is bad, but it is going to be even worse if those two children are put into homeless accommodation for God knows how long, given the state of the homelessness list in this city. This is one scheme that can work. A landlord is willing to engage but is being forced to look at the private market because of the delays in the Minister making an announcement on this scheme and in the local authorities addressing the problems. There is also the fact the local authorities are saying they will not move because of adaptations such as attic conversions. The Government is talking about allowing sheds in back gardens but will not allow people to live in a home they have been in for seven years.

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