Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

I thank the Minister of State for his response and engagement on this matter. To iterate the scale of this crisis of mould, damp and poor conditions, it was seven years ago that the European Committee of Social Rights found the Irish State to be in violation of human rights and failing to take sufficient and timely measures to ensure the right to housing of an adequate standard for families living in local authorities housing. Seven years ago, the committee found against Ireland on the basis of the presence of sewage, contaminated water, dampness and persistent mould and it raised serious concerns about habitability. It noted in particular the high number of residents in certain estates in Dublin complaining of sewage invasions and issues of dampness and mould.

This is not acceptable. We have to look at what the structural problem is here. Why are local authorities unable to respond in the way they should be able to? We need to go back to in-house maintenance. Local authorities need the funding and resources to systematically and quickly respond to these issues. Children are growing up in social housing in this country whose lives are being damaged by mould and damp. It impacts their education, mental health and life chances. It is a breach of their human rights. We are breaching the rights of children who are growing up in social housing because of the State's failure to act. This is the State's responsibility; that is one of the most frustrating aspects of this issue. These people are tenants of this State. The State, which is the landlord, should be leading on responses and treating tenants of social housing with dignity and respect. That has to change from the top down and local authorities have to change as well.

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