Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I move amendment No. 40:

In page 18, subsection (6)(b), line 3, to delete "need;" and substitute the following:

"need. In particular housing need assessments must have regard to the need for housing of people who—

(i) are homeless,

(ii) are members of the Travelling Community,

(iii) are living in accommodation that is unfit for human habitation or is materially unsuitable for their adequate housing,

(iv) are living in overcrowded accommodation,

(v) are sharing accommodation with another person or persons and who, in the opinion of the housing authority, have a reasonable requirement for separate accommodation,

(vi) are young persons leaving institutional care or without family accommodation,

(vii) are in need of accommodation for medical or compassionate reasons,

(viii) are elderly,

(ix) are disabled,

(x) are, in the opinion of the housing authority, not reasonably able to meet the cost of the accommodation which they are occupying or to obtain suitable alternative accommodation;"

This seeks to insert a new provision in section 20(6) which is based on previous legislation and provides that the Minister would be empowered to make regulations providing for the matters by reference to which a household's need for social housing support and the form of such support would be determined. There is already a list of three such matters and my amendment inserts a further provision that housing needs assessments must have regard to the need for housing of people who are homeless, members of the Traveller community, and a list of other factors such as where accommodation is unfit for human habitation, overcrowded or where accommodation is shared. It sets out in a more specific way the list of persons especially in need. The existing provisions are returned to the Bill, providing a better foundation upon which the Minister may base regulations.

As Senator Norris has said, I am very grateful to the Make Room coalition which comprises Focus Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Simon Community and Threshold. These front-line housing agencies and homeless support agencies have been very helpful in giving us information. They are of the view that this should be re-inserted into the Bill and would be of assistance to the Minister in outlining the needs to which he or she must have regard.