Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)

This Government and consecutive governments have failed the people of Ireland abysmally when it comes to housing. Every report and statistic underlines the abject failure in tackling the housing emergency. The most damning indictment of failed housing policies is the homeless figures. The most recent figures published make very sad reading. In Dublin tonight, 11,782 people are homeless. That is an increase of 1,301 over the past 12 months. In Dublin tonight, 3,813 children have nowhere to call home. Every one of these people, every family and every child should have a home. People are languishing on housing lists for years. Families are living in overcrowded and cramped conditions. In some situations, three generations are living in the one home while thousands of others remain in emergency accommodation. A TD who is far more experienced than I am said:

Despite the fact that these record figures do not even account for the households who have transferred to the HAP scheme, they still expose Fine Gael's deep seated ideological opposition to the delivery of public housing.

These were the words of Deputy Darragh O'Brien of Fianna Fáil in 2018. He went on to be appointed as Minister for housing in 2020. We all know how that turned out. In January 2020, when the Minister took office, there were 7,278 people homeless in Dublin. When he left office in January of this year, that number had increased to 10,912. These are just the figures for Dublin. They are not just statistics; they are all real people. As a TD for Dublin Fingal East, I meet families every day who are deeply affected by this Government's housing policy. For example, a woman who fled domestic violence and is trying to heal and rebuild her life is currently living in a shed in her parents' back garden, which is cold and damp, and it leaks. She is condemned to live in appalling conditions because there is no housing available. Another example is Jack, who has a serious heart condition which requires machines to monitor his wellness. After Jack received a no-fault eviction notice, Fingal County Council did not engage with him until his last day in the house. When he had to leave the home, he was offered accommodation in a bed and breakfast by Fingal County Council but he could not take it because of his medical equipment. What is he supposed to do?

Meanwhile, we have the ongoing issue surrounding HAP. Up to August 2024, the State spent €2 billion on payments under the HAP scheme, whereby tenants continue to rent in the precarious private rental sector and the State foots the bill. Many tenants are living in unacceptable conditions. I met a HAP tenant yesterday who pays €2,700 a month. The house has a leaking roof and mould on the walls, and is unbearably cold. A report compiled by an inspector in 2024 outlined the repairs that are required, but none have been carried out. Many other tenants are simply too nervous to complain about poor and unacceptable housing conditions because they fear they will be evicted, with nowhere to go.

I could go on by mentioning a number of other cases but I am conscious of the time. The Government has no plan to end the housing crisis because it simply does not see it as an emergency. In last week's budget, it had an opportunity to provide enough funding to our local authorities to build social and affordable housing to meet the needs of the city. It could have reinvested in the tenant in situ scheme and other measures to deal with evictions. Instead, it chose to give tax breaks to private developers. It was a wasted opportunity that will only cause further misery for my constituents and families across Dublin.

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