Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the motion and thank Senator Clifford for proposing it. There are some very positive measures we would welcome. We welcome that one of the first debates in the House highlights and focuses on such a vital, important and crucial issue. The motion and supplementary amendments that have been proposed by Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil offer very constructive and positive measures. I and, I believe, many others in our group would be very interested in driving forward an all-party consensus and in moving forward together in terms of highlighting these issues. That is something we can do constructively.

I wish to highlight a number of issues. The figures on deprivation in Ireland are shocking. Deprivation involves not just poverty in terms of income but a lack of any form of safety net, security or capital reserve. Deprivation means the lack of means to purchase the basic necessities of life. That puts into very stark contrast those who want to manage housing in terms of day-to-day spending. I welcome the specific acknowledgement of the very shocking deprivation levels affecting lone parents in Ireland. One-parent families are a cause of concern in terms of the deprivation levels that exist.

I refer to housing and homelessness. While it is important that we highlight the large numbers of people on housing waiting lists, we must also be aware of the large number of hidden homeless. Some previous speakers focused on those who are staying in unsafe and unsuitable situations, particularly people who are dealing with issues such as domestic violence, because of a lack of appropriate housing and the fear of entering what is now seen to be a long and desperate journey to obtain housing or alternative housing, which may involve bringing children into unsuitable situations.

In addition to some of the measures that have been mentioned, which focus largely on emergency measures and initial action, I hope the House may also address the crucial medium-term housing issues which must be considered. Another Senatorspoke of leasing. An over-reliance on the use of leases at local level, which results in a block on the opportunity for local authorities to purchase sustainable housing, means that children who are enrolled in schools have no guarantee that in three or five years' time a landlord will not move them out of their current accommodation. A short-term solution offering five or ten-year leases would leave many children disturbed in the middle of their schooling. Such an approach would affect jobs, etc., and would require families to reroute and reorient themselves after a period of homelessness. Such families will again be thrown into vulnerable situations. We have seen this happen on a case-by-case basis throughout the country. In terms of medium-term measures, I urge the State to build or buy rather than lease housing units.

Another medium-term danger is the capital gains tax waiver which was in place in 2013 and 2014. In effect, it was an invitation to vulture funds to enter Ireland. We must now address the concerns of those who are renting properties from vulture funds. We have seen the need for such people to be given urgent protection. In three or four years' time, when the vulture funds are able to withdraw from Ireland without paying tax thanks to the seven-year condition that was applied to their purchases, we may face a further crisis.

Another speaker said that this matter is not about money. It is about money. We need to say that we value direct investment in housing and are willing to put it on the books - it does not need to be off-balance sheet. A cost-benefit analysis of the recent reduction in inheritance tax might be a more worthy exercise than considering the comparable cost and benefit of investing in secure homes for families across Ireland in the long term. I urge us to move past the no-cost approach to a more dynamic long-term investment approach.