Dáil debates

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

1:00 pm

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will be responding to the submission from Threshold on the overhaul of the way that he deals with homelessness; his views on a deposit protection scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37875/11]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the views espoused by Threshold. Despite the very considerable public funding that has been utilised in the emergency homeless sector over the last number of years, insufficient progress on delivering people out of emergency accommodation into independent living has been achieved. The Government is determined to tackle homelessness in a more planned and strategic way, by adopting a housing led approach and providing long-term solutions, rather than just managing homelessness.

The programme for Government commits to the introduction of a deposit protection scheme and it is important that action is taken in the context of a strong evidence base. I have asked the Private Residential Tenancies Board, the independent statutory body charged with the administration of the Act, to commission a cost-benefit analysis on such a scheme and to report back to me with recommendations. I expect that the board will revert to me with detailed research and recommendations in the first half of 2012.

In July 2011, the Government approved the drafting of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2011. The general scheme of the Bill proposes the introduction of fines where a landlord is found incorrectly to have retained a tenant's deposit as a first step to eliminating the problem of deposit retention. My Department is currently liaising with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel about the drafting of the Bill.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I would first like to pay tribute to the former Minister of State, Deputy Penrose. I worked with him for seven months and I found him very easy to work with. When will he be replaced? Many people are contacting us to know when there will be a voice at the Cabinet table for the most marginalised. Is the Minister aware that there are approximately 5,000 people homeless, one in seven of whom is a child? There are almost 10,000 people on social housing waiting lists and there are tens of thousands in fear of losing their homes because of rent and mortgage arrears. I would like to know what the Minister is going to do about that.

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There is a considerable number of people in emergency accommodation. They have a roof over their heads and they have an integrated care plan to one extent or another. Not all of this accommodation is of a standard I would like, and that is why the Government has decided to adopt a housing-led approach, rather than an approach which puts people into bed and breakfast accommodation or hostels and leaves them there. They can be cared for individually with the help of HSE staff and other staff. I would like to see a situation where a significant number of properties are made available by local authority housing units and by the National Asset Management Agency, especially in our major cities.

There are currently 1,000 children in aftercare, and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is dealing with this issue proactively to ensure that no child is left uncared for in the context of homelessness.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy that the deposit protection scheme is making progress. I have met representatives from many agencies, and Threshold has been particularly strong on the idea of a scheme like this. Disputes are currently taking 12 months to resolve, and I believe that Threshold dealt with 3,600 cases last year. The agency has prevented disputes in its work. I would like to see a more proactive role by the Government and by the next Minister of State with responsibility to ensure that these disputes will not take place. We can prevent disputes by having a scheme like this, as advocated by Threshold.

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy that the level of proactivity on the part of the authorities in dealing with disputes is quite slow. Only 43% are resolved within one year, and that is not acceptable. That is why the legislation will be brought forward in the middle of 2012. We have to do a little bit of research in the first half of 2012 to make sure we get it right.