David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am very pleased that Senator D'Arcy is building bridges of his own across the political divide. I support him in the call he has made for common sense to prevail and for people to stop playing games with this issue which is far too important.

I raise the issue of social housing and housing in general. On a number of occasions in this House the Sinn Féin party has raised the issue of housing. Last year we used Private Members' time, the sole opportunity we have on a yearly basis, to raise the issues of provision of social housing and rent supplement. We saw a crisis which was evident at that time and which, unfortunately, has got much worse since then.

As Senators will know, in this State we have had a major change in policy in social housing over the past ten years, away from local authorities to building social housing blocks or estates and being given funding to do so. There was Part 5 social and affordable housing and also the private rented sector. I agree with part of the policy and do not agree with other parts. We have now found ourselves in a situation where local authorities do not have any money to build any social housing. Part 5 goes to the private sector and new builds have completely dried up. There are no new builds and no new housing stock coming into play. The vast majority of housing needs are being met through the private rented sector, either through rent supplement or the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. What we see now is a crisis within a crisis. I can testify to that in terms of my own dealings with people in Waterford who are either in RAS houses or waiting to get into them. We have a crisis within a crisis where there is a reduction in the amount of money people can get through rent supplement and there have been changes to rent caps.

At present, landlords, mainly in Dublin but also in other urban areas throughout the State, are either unable or unwilling to repay their mortgages. As a result, their properties are being repossessed by the banks and RAS applicants are simply being turfed out. There is no support for the latter. We need to return to the drawing board in the context of the provision of social housing in the State. Will the Leader arrange a debate on housing? There are many facets to this matter, including mortgage distress - this is a hugely important issue and the Government has not done enough in respect of it - and the crisis in social housing, and they must be dealt with. I would welcome it if the Leader made time available for a debate on this important issue.