Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I will begin by reiterating that, for the common good, I want every Government housing and homelessness policy to work. For every person on a housing list, for every one of the hidden homeless, for every family in a homeless hub and for all of those in emergency accommodation, I want the Government's policies to work. However, I do not know what way it needs to be communicated to the Minister for him to accept there is a housing and homelessness crisis and to the Government for it to understand that the housing and homelessness crisis will not go away and for it to acknowledge the housing and homelessness crisis will not resolve itself. It needs a change in direction from the Government.

The Government's failed housing policies have caused a big homelessness problem in the wee county. Louth, which is the 12th most populous of the 26 counties in the State, has the sixth highest level of homelessness, according to the latest figures available on the Department's website. I spoke previously to the Minister about the 35% increase in those needing emergency accommodation in just a year in my home county of Louth. It gives me no pleasure to state these facts.

Solutions are being put forward to the Minister if he would just hear them and accept them. According to the 2022 census, there are 163,000 vacant dwellings in Ireland. The housing list would be cleared and homelessness could be ended if the Government accepted our proposals and introduced stronger taxes on vacancy and dereliction and greater use of compulsory purchase orders to bring empty homes back into use. Rents would stabilise due to greater housing supply being available and our towns and cities suffering from dereliction would benefit. It is simple and effective and it would take great pressure off local authorities, such as Louth County Council, which have to chase rogue developers who sit on properties and allow them to go derelict until they see the opportunity for perfect profit regardless of housing needs, homelessness and the urban eyesores they have created. A wee change could do so much good, and for Louth, the wee county I represent, I implore the Minister to take emergency action.

See this speech in context