Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise two issues today. The first is that of rental housing supply in the market. A report published today by the Simon Community has shown the gap widening between rent supplement and actual market rents. The report illustrates that 83% of rental properties are beyond the reach of rent supplement. The Simon Community supports over 8,300 individuals and families at risk of homelessness each year. We should take heed of the report because the Simon Community is at the coalface of the housing crisis. Ultimately, we need to address the issue of supply in the market because all these issues are ancillary to that of supply. There are 2,000 vacant local authority properties lying idle in the country, which begs the question as to why they are not being refurbished. Why have they not been put back into the mainstream local authority supply of social housing?

Yesterday, I raised issues surrounding the first-time buyers grant and explained how the scheme is not working effectively. We would not need these cobbled together schemes if we had decent supply in the market. I ask the Minister to ensure that social housing is built and a proper fund put in place so that we can start building. I have not been to one sod turning ceremony in my constituency, although I would like to attend one to see such construction.

The second issue I wish to raise concerns funding for drug and alcohol prevention task forces both in my area and in many cities around the country. It has recently come to my attention that the HSE has been reducing funding for addiction services in the south inner city. For the past 24 months, the south inner city task force has been run on a part-time basis and with the support of volunteers. Furthermore, members of the south inner city drugs and alcohol task force conveyed their shock to me when they learned that a co-ordinator in a nearby task force was allowed to recruit another HSE staffer when they already had a full-time staff member.

I find it shocking and of serious concern to see more cuts in essential services in Dublin South Central. I have previously raised concerns in this Chamber about the concentration of homeless hostels in my constituency and the lack of investment in public spaces and green areas. With a high concentration of homeless hostels, lack of investment in public spaces and cuts to addiction services, it is time to stop using urban areas as a dumping ground for the city's problems and start calling on the Government to begin investing in essential services.

I welcome today's announcement of on-the-spot road checks for the use of narcotics by drivers. That will go some way towards alleviating road deaths.