Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)

I heard the Taoiseach's remarks yesterday at the national economic dialogue, and I have to say never in my life have I heard such reality-defying words. He told us that fundamental reform was being delivered that was creating a sustainable housing system into the future. We have a Raise the Roof rally outside the Dáil today. If we did a survey of all the people there, and of all the people who were renting, they would disagree terribly with these words, which are so completely out of touch.

The Minister has heard an awful lot of real-life stories from these benches today and I want to add some of my own to show how the policies are impacting on people. I will make one point before I do so. We need to deal with the housing crisis and it needs to get sorted for the ordinary people who are being shoved left, right and centre. There is no emergency accommodation in Galway city or county. People are told to try to self-finance alternative accommodation because there is no emergency accommodation. I want the policies the Minister is bringing forward to work for people because I cannot continue to have people crying every single Monday in my clinic in Bohermore. People are crying because they are facing homelessness and they do not know what to do, especially when they are being told there is no emergency accommodation.

Nothing was more frustrating than when I saw the proposals last weekend. The Minister must know himself that the reality of his new proposals is that they will increase rent prices. He has to know that the impact of the cut to the tenant in situ scheme means it will shove more people into homelessness. The reality is there has been a real cut for the councils. There are two councils in my constituency, but if the Minister spoke to any of the councils throughout the country, he would definitely know this. He is aware of it and there is no way he does not know it.

I ask the Minister to reconsider these measures. Will he reconsider the cut to the tenant in situ scheme funding? Will he reconsider the proposal he has, which will simply jack up rents? The measures are not working for people. It is not fair to people and people are really struggling.

See this speech in context