Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I call for a debate on social housing, in particular long-term leasing. I do not know whether it has been an issue elsewhere, but people in County Donegal who are offered long-term leases are being told by the local council that, according to the Department of Social Protection, they will not be entitled to exceptional needs payments, which are used to furnish the properties. I have been contacted by several of the affected families. Were they tenants in standard council houses, they would receive the payments. When I spoke with the county's housing officer, he told me that the council's hands were tied. Where Donegal County Council is concerned, the only show in town is long-term leasing. I do not know about other counties.

This is a catch-22 situation. A young couple rang me yesterday morning and this morning to tell me that they have been offered a property and must sign for it by today or tomorrow, although the council will not hold them to ransom on that. If they do not take the property, it will be regarded as a refusal. If they leave their current home and take the property, they will not have the financing to furnish the property. Many of the new long-term leasing properties are new houses with floor coverings and nothing else. Will the Departments of Social Protection and the Environment, Community and Local Government examine this catch-22 situation?

I call for a debate on social housing with a specific emphasis on long-term leasing. As a member of Donegal County Council, I welcomed this initiative when it was introduced by the former Government. Long-term leasing has merit, as it provides housing at short notice to young couples, single persons or whoever. However, an anomaly has arisen and other Members may have had similar experiences in their counties. Could they speak with me about the issue?