James Bannon (Fine Gael)

What about those dependent on rental subsidies to enter the private rental sector with its prohibitive costs, such as young families waiting to be accommodated by local authorities? Health boards may refuse rent allowance to anyone not already renting for six months unless he or she is homeless. How are people supposed to pay high rents in private accommodation while they wait for the six months to elapse? This will drive many more people onto the homeless lists or the streets, a problem we witness nightly in close proximity to the House. More than 100,000 people, most of whom need to rent from the private sector, are seeking housing from their local authorities. Under the proposed changes, they will not be able to apply for rental subsidy for up to six months while they wait to be included on the priority list.

In 1997, the Fianna Fáil Party promised to increase the first-time buyer's grant to €6,350 for couples and accelerate the supply of new houses. In 1998-99, the Government promised to control the increase in house prices and in 2002 it promised to implement a multi-stranded approach to addressing housing needs across the spectrum.