Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with my colleague on the announcement today by the Minister, Deputy Kelly, relating to the 1,700 additional social housing units to be delivered over the next two and a half to three years. Nobody will pretend that this is the be all and end all but it is a beginning and other announcements on other issues will be forthcoming. However, the Senator also makes a very important point on the entire issue of rent supplement and people losing their homes because of rents. It is important to bear in mind that the Minister, Deputy Kelly, who is a man for plain speaking, has made it abundantly clear in no uncertain terms that he intends to deal with the issue of rent increases. He has never rowed back from that position and has made it clear that in the next couple of weeks, Members can look forward to an announcement on the issue of rents escalating out of all boundaries in respect of any other costs in this economy.This would be a good time for the Leader to bring the Minister to the House to talk about the social housing programme, in particular, and also the other aspects such as the contributions of the approved housing bodies. There is a tendency when one hears a good news announcement to decry it, as a certain leader of a homelessness organisation did today. It is part of an overall package and strategy that cannot be taken in isolation. We need yet again to have exposure of the overall strategy and examine it, particularly given that an article in one of the newspapers today states the number of repossession orders has risen by 500% in the year to date by comparison with the same period in 2014. Nobody is pretending that we are not in the middle of a housing crisis, but there are some very good measures being taken by the Government that need to be recognised.

It has been highlighted that Ireland is one of Europe's top performers economically. That is not exactly news to this House, but, yet again, it has been noted that there is serious concern about mortgage arrears. We are expecting a Government statement on this issue in the next two to three weeks, but it would be very useful if the House could have its say on some of the issues we believe should be part of that strategy. I ask the Leader yet again whether we could have the Minister for Finance in the House to talk about the mortgage arrears crisis and social housing in general. Senator Gerard P. Craughwell should note that I look forward to the debate tomorrow on receivers in this context. The debate will be very useful in considering the overall issue we are facing of mortgage arrears and what is a housing crisis.