Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Senator Terry Leyden has raised a number of genuine issues which are related to inability to pay, poverty proofing of legislation, etc. People will be unable to pay. Both the Minister and the Minister of State have acknowledged throughout the debate that they believe there are people who can pay, people who will not pay and people who genuinely are in a position that they will not be able to pay. The Minister has said the measures he has introduced will support them. However, where somebody cannot pay, will he outline how imposing a late payment charge will make his or her position better rather than worse? If someone is so badly strapped that he or she cannot pay the initial fees, imposing a late payment charge will exacerbate his or her position, as well as putting severe mental pressure on him or her because he or she is worried as it is about the other bills he or she has to pay, food, etc.

A number of related issues have not been raised. I met the leaders of a students' union in a third level institution recently on a different issue and I asked them what was the most pressing issue for students. I was taken aback that it was water charges because I could not understand why that was an issue. They said students were being put under pressure by landlords on water charges because they were still unclear as to where they stood on the issue and whether they would be hit with the charges, late charges and fines. They are, therefore, flagging this issue with students and threatening to withhold deposits. Students also do not know where they stand in this regard. They also highlighted that where numbers of students stayed in a house together, some were exemplary students and tenants but others might not be; some might be good at paying the rent, while others might be a little slow. Where the late payments fall one year after a group of students have left a house, who will be left holding the can for the payment of the late charges? Where does the landlord stand, etc?

This goes back to the piecemeal manner in which the legislation has been introduced. If I wanted to put a kitchen in a house, I would draw up a plan. I would not go to IKEA this week, buy a piece of furniture and return another week for another piece and so on and hoped it all worked together. There does not seem to be a plan for water charges. We have had three water services Bills with severe changes in each one. We have been told legislation will be brought forward in the future to address the position of landlords, etc, but what is the overall plan? Why is the Minister asking us to buy into a piecemeal approach to the legislation where he is giving us a number of pieces of the jigsaw but not showing us the overall picture? That is the part of the reason people find it hard to believe and trust the Government's plans on these issues because it is chopping and changing so much and there does not seem to be an overall plan into which people can buy.

Senator David Cullinane raised another issue in this regard, to which he did not receive a reply. This relates to local authority housing and late charges. Who is responsible for the collection of property taxes on local authority housing? Are local authority managers being directed to collect and increase rents on local authority housing, as has been mentioned by some local authority chief executive officers? Are rents being increased in order that the water charges can be collected in that way? If the local authorities experience late payment issues, do they pay the charges, or does it fall to the tenants to pay them? If it is the tenants, how will the matter be administered? Local authority housing is within the Minister's bailiwick. What discussions are taking place with local authority chief executive officers on administering it? What agreements have been reached? I understand there are substantial issues involved. If we could receive specific answers, it might be a help.