Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One hundred and twenty adults in County Waterford are officially recorded as homeless, according to the latest figures published by the Department. There are 109 children in emergency accommodation across the wider south-east region. The Minister and I both know that is just the tip of the iceberg. A whole generation has been locked out of home ownership and it seems is fated to a lifetime of paying exorbitant rents or leaving Ireland altogether to live, work and raise their families abroad. Not only is this housing catastrophe and emergency having huge personal impacts on people and their families and sounding the death knell of many a rural community, it is affecting the ability of public services to recruit and retain personnel and impacting our economic competitiveness.

We will no doubt hear an awful lot from the Minister's side of the House about economic competitiveness over the coming days, but what is the Government's response to the housing emergency? There has been a cut of more than €100 million for new-build social and affordable this year, and delay after delay when it comes to progressing social, affordable and cost rental projects, including much-needed affordable housing in Ardmore, a mixed development in Dungarvan, and a very small but significant and important housing scheme at An Sean Phobal in Gaeltacht na nDéise, which was put through the Department's streamlined, fast-track approval process almost four years ago. There has yet to be any movement on that. Tá ár gceantracha Ghaeltacha i gcruachás de dheasca na géarchéime seo. Tá easpa tola, easpa tuisceana agus easpa ghnímh i gceist. Beart de réir briathar atá de dhíth orainn anois.

We need a change of direction and we need to truly recognise this as the emergency it is for our country and society.

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