David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last week I sought debates on two important issues. The first was the Government's health policy, given the signal by the Minister that there seems to be some change in the Government's overall vision for health care and the practicalities of implementing Government policy on health care, and the second concerned water charges, given the confusion that still exists over the charges, how the system will work and the impact on families. I respectfully ask the Leader whether he has been able to secure debates on any of these issues. It would be very helpful for the House if he were able to do so before the budget, but as soon as possible.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on housing and homelessness. We are all in agreement in this House that these comprise a very serious issue. There is almost universal acceptance that we are in the midst of the most severe housing crisis in the history of the State. There are 89,872 households, which represents over 100,000 men, women and children, on housing lists. The waiting list has increased by 30% over the past five years. There is a very serious problem with emergency accommodation and homelessness, not only in Dublin but also across the State. There are 74,000 families in receipt of rent supplement. Many of them are in private rented accommodation, not because they want to be but because there is no other option. We just do not have social housing and we are not building any. Therefore, whether people want it or like it or not, their housing needs are being met through the private rental sector. Some €350 million in taxpayers' money is being used annually to subsidise people in private rented accommodation.

We need a debate on this issue. The Simon Community published a report today which was sharply critical of Government policy and which said that the Simon Community's view was that there was no chance whatsoever of the Government meeting the target set by the Taoiseach of ending homelessness by 2016. All the evidence points to us going in the opposite direction. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on that issue because it is very important. Housing is a fundamental right for citizens and we have an obligation to hold the Government to account on commitments it made in the programme for Government which in the view of many stakeholders are not being met.