Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

The Bill will address the general point.

I ask the Minister of State to deal with shared and affordable housing. Social housing is exempt, which is right. Unfortunately Deputy Penrose is no longer Minister of State. I raised the issue of arrears on shared ownership and affordable housing with him, which are over 18.5% on average and over 20% in some local authorities, with him. They do not come under the statutory code of conduct for mortgage arrears and local authorities are being extremely difficult with people in arrears through the Home Finance Agency. I will table an amendment today which deals with an exemption for people in shared ownership or affordable housing. There is a major arrears issue with which I am sure the Minister is familiar.

In regard to appeals on the waiver, section 9 of the Bill states if one wishes to appeal the decision of a local authority to not grant a waiver one has to go to the District Court. There has to be a better way to deal with that rather than going to the courts. If I believe I cannot pay €100 and have a case to appeal it is very unlikely that I will go to the District Court. How many people will be able to represent themselves in the District Court? Will they pay for solicitor's fees to represent them? They will not if they cannot afford to pay €100. That aspect of the Bill can be improved and is flawed.

The definition of a "residential property" includes a bedsit. We need to examine that issue. If someone is living in a one room dwelling with a kitchenette and toilet in the same room why should he or she pay €100 when someone living in a ten bedroom house in Foxrock is paying the same? They are realistic issues which need to be addressed.

Senator Keane is right to some degree. There are people who do not have access to the Internet who are not skilled at using it. I am trying to teach my family every day how to use it.