Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by highlighting the issue of infrastructure in my county of Wexford. One of the main vital issues our country faces at present, after the provision of affordable and social housing, is energy sustainability. Rosslare Europort is the number one port for roll on, roll off PAX services in Europe. However, the delay in developing the port into Ireland's offshore renewable energy hub is extremely worrying considering there is a supposed deadline for the project to be finalised by 2027.

It is also worrying that the N11 bottleneck, which transfers into the N25 at Oilgate, is hampering the development of the region and the completion of the main artery of the European route E01 from Belfast to Rosslare, not to mention the underdevelopment of the rail lines, particularly the regularity and upgrading of intercity trains.

Housing targets have been missed year in, year out. Even more staggering, there are more than 166,000 voids in the country, and this when homeless figures are at a record level, with the latest figures showing 15,418 people homeless, of whom 4,675 are children. This is a scandal.

The recent criteria attached to the current tenant in situ scheme must be re-evaluated. This is a successful scheme that can and has prevented people from becoming homeless. I appeal to the Minister to re-examine the unfair changes introduced to the tenant in situ scheme which will result in more people losing their homes. A contributing factor is rents. In my county alone, the average listed rent is now €1,423.

Uisce Éireann, in its strategic growth plan, must be cognisant of rural towns and villages where people prefer to live. The Government must insist it develops service site schemes into our small villages and communities and provide the necessary funding. In County Wexford, however, Uisce Éireann is concentrating on the towns of Gorey and Wexford, leaving the rural community, small towns and villages to dwindle and die.

I ask that the House supports the motion.

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