Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment.

I will not go into too much detail on all the amendments, as Senator Norris and others will cover them. I will speak to amendments Nos. 10 and 11 specifically. As we all know, the canal waterways are not just for the enjoyment of tourists. For communities of people the canal is their home. In this context, with regard to our housing crisis, we must ensure any laws impacting on canal residents are done in such a way that the crisis is not exacerbated. At no point during the hours and hours of debate in the Chamber on the Bill has the Minister referenced in any way our concerns about the potentially huge increase in costs for boat users on our canals. I wish to spend a little time looking at this today.Many canal users have contacted me and come to my office. Some of them are students. One of them is training to be a teacher and has another two years to complete. He is living in great fear that the minimal amount of money it costs to live on the canal at present will increase dramatically because it is not linked to inflation. They are paying a small amount at present but they are concerned that the cost of a permit will increase to a few thousand euro a year.

Amendment No. 10 is reasonable and sensible. It simply seeks to ensure that the cost of permits and licences is set at a level that correlates to the intended use and to ensure that there is some linkage with the general level of prices in the economy. It is not a radical amendment. It would simply ensure that the canal residents are protected from prohibitive increases in costs.

Is the Minister willing to accept the amendment? If she feels she cannot accept it, amendment No. 11 is a compromise and also provides for some joined-up thinking in respect of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and rent pressure zones. As homes on canals might also be homes in rent pressure zones that legislation should link up so that it applies to houseboat owners as well. Amendment No. 11 deals with increases in costs for permits and licences. Will the Minister at least accept that canal residents moored in designated rent pressure zones are living in areas where there is huge pressure in the local rental market and that people who live on the water, as opposed to the land, deserve protection from cost increases as much as others? Is she willing to link the canals in rent pressure zones with the current rent pressure zone limits set in the rental market?