Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator John Dolan and Senator Grace O'Sullivan for bringing this important motion before the House. I congratulate the Minister on his current portfolio which he has taken on with great enthusiasm. I sincerely hope that people's expectations will not be overly complicated. I believe the Minister will do everything he can to deal with the housing crisis, but he is not God and can only do so much. I hope we will understand that, as he delivers his programme.

In his presentation, Senator Dolan mentioned the line, "Get on with your life". It is on that basis that I want to speak, not about disability but about ability. I am personally aware of two young men, both of whom are profoundly disabled, married and living within the city centre area. Both of them are paying massive rents. They live in a constant state of fear of homelessness because they are about at the limit of what they can afford in rent. They will never be able to save for a deposit on a house; it is just not possible in their current environment. Moreover, if they seek to buy a house or an apartment it cannot be in the suburbs. It must be in the city centre because they work there and for that they will pay a premium. More importantly, if they ever find the money to purchase a city centre apartment, it will have to be completely renovated.

One of these individuals loves to cook and is a fantastic chef, but everything must be at ground level because this man has no legs. One can imagine, therefore, that if he goes into a modern apartment block, it is totally useless to him. I have discussed with both of these people the notion that they might put themselves on the housing list and they said: "Why? We have good jobs. We are able to pay the rent. We don't need to look to the State to provide accommodation for us." What they do need, however, is support. The Minister and I discussed this matter during talks on the programme for Government, that we would have some recognition of rent paid in lieu of deposit requirements when it comes to purchasing property.These people are paying between €1,400 and €1,600 per month for their apartments. They are middle of the road employees who will never be able to save money.

The proposal put forward by my colleague regarding the reduction in VAT may greatly assist them in purchasing a house. I do not wish to throw another spanner in the works for the Minister because he has enough on his plate but we have to find some way of supporting people such as these who are living independently. All they ask is that they be allowed to live somewhere central enough to allow them to work. A battery-operated wheelchair will only go so far before it needs to be recharged. In all cases, they need two wheelchairs - a push wheelchair and a battery-operated wheelchair - depending on what they are doing or where they are going at any given time. Both of the people to whom I refer go on holidays abroad and they are entitled to their holiday like anybody else. However, we have to find a way of enabling them to have the same opportunity to build a home as the Minister or myself who are able bodied.

The first time I met one of these individuals, he was coming towards me and I thought, "Oh my God, what I am going to say?", because he was not what I expected. Ten minutes after I met him, I had forgotten he was in a wheelchair. Anybody who has ever met this guy has had the same experience. When the Minister brings his plan forward, I ask him to think about the VAT option, and to examine a way to instruct builders to provide one apartment in every 60 they build, for example, to meet the needs of a specific set of people with disabilities. If that could be done, it would make the lives of these people much better. Something will have to be done about the way the banks require deposits before they will lend money to young people with disabilities and I acknowledge that does not come under the Minister's remit. This issue affects all young people but these people have a specific need. I ask the Minister to take that on board.

I wish him well with his portfolio. I am impressed with the way he has come out fighting and I hope it goes well for him.