Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome. He faces many great challenges, not just in regard to social housing but also affordable housing and affordable rental housing. I do not want to go over the statistics that have been outlined. The Minister needs to have a short-term, mid-term and long-term plan to resolve this issue. He has been working on mid-term and long-term solutions but he needs to address the low-hanging fruit. How do we deal with the people and families that are currently homeless? The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Coveney, gave me a commitment that he would set up a working group in relation to short-term lets. When I checked at the beginning of the summer, the group had only met twice. I hope it has met on further occasions since then.

The Minister made an announcement in regard to a licensing process for short-term lets within a period of time. We need a lot of action in that regard. Between 2,500 and 6,500 units in Dublin have moved from being available for rent for working families or people on the housing assistance payment, HAP, or rent allowance to being used for short-term lets. Some people use the word "Airbnb" as the common denominator but there are at least 16 different platforms dealing in short-term lets in the capital city. That can be dealt with through our planning procedures because planning permission has not been granted for premises to operate as short-term lets and I refer the Minister to the decision of An Bord Pleanála in that regard. I have contacted several planning enforcement officers who work across the city and asked them how we can deal with this issue.One of the issues the officers have highlighted is the fact that they cannot prove that a premises is operating a short-term let thus breaching planning permission. We need a register to deal with this matter. Therefore, we must legislate to ensure that platforms maintain a register.

I am not talking about a family who rent a spare room or somebody who rents a spare room in his or her city apartment to Airbnb. Such endeavour has enhanced this city and helps an owner-occupier to pay his or her mortgage and meet new people. Last week I moved home. Since then my neighbours have informed me that on my street alone seven houses that were used as family homes have moved to Airbnb lettings in the past two years. In the mornings I can hear the wheels of travel cases trundling down the footpath as visitors make their way to the airport. I have also been informed that not too far from where the Minister lives up to ten homes have either changed from family homes or long-term lets to short-term lets in the past two years.

As I said clearly to the former Minister, Deputy Coveney, a decision has to be made but there are consequences for every decision. Short-term lets enhance the tourism industry and attract more people to the city. We must decide whether we want to house families and working families in this city or supply accommodation that was designed and built for long-term lets or for use as family homes to the tourism market. The answer to me is clear. We must provide homes for families and working people in this city. Will such a measure solve the housing crisis? No. I totally accept that such a measure will not do so but this short-term solution will give a quick fix. Let us consider the lowest estimate of 2,500 units. If the Minister ensured 2,000 of those units became long-term lets within a year the measure would significantly contribute to alleviating this city's housing crisis.

I shall now speak generally. Earlier Senator McDowell mentioned Charlemont Street and the Minister was present. I had the privilege to serve on the regeneration board established to oversee the development of Charlemont Street. Indeed, it was a block redevelopment. We did not look at social housing in isolation. Instead, we considered ways to make the city work and sought the right density of population and social housing with dual aspect apartments with storage space. We also made sure that private housing was developed and shopping and work spaces were provided. The area is now a real living area in the city and one that will last for many generations.

We have to concentrate on providing housing as quickly as possible and regenerate the housing stock of the entire country. Senator McDowell mentioned Dolphin House and I would add Pearse House and Markievicz House to the list of buildings that need significant investment to bring them up to date. At present they are unsuitable in terms of today's living standards. The flats were built with a coal hole located to the front of the buildings. The buildings were good quality at the time of being built. However, when people have tried to install central heating in these flats many instances of mould and damp were discovered. Therefore, investment is necessary.

The next item is homelessness. The Minister has not got full control over the issue because there are many homeless families. Unfortunately, homelessness has been with us for a long time. It is difficult to move people from homelessness into housing. I know because I have worked with homeless individuals. It is mainly individual homeless people who have successfully been housed. I know that some of them have moved into a home but fallen back into homelessness after a couple of months because wraparound services offering support were not provided to the individuals when first housed. The HSE must step up to the mark. Vulnerable people who are homeless need HSE supports and wraparound services when they move into a home thus ensuring that they do not fall back into homelessness.

The Minister will not find me wanting when it comes to supporting ways to tackle the many challenges. On many occasions I have had the privilege, as a councillor, to develop many housing units like the Pumphouse development, which is located quite close to my home. I recall that many people loudly objected to the development because the apartments were designated as social housing. Dublin City Council was also able to develop affordable housing at Poolbeg Quay during the main period of recession. There is not one solution but many solutions to the housing crisis. I ask the Minister to urgently analyse the effects short-term lets are having on this city. This matter can be dealt with quickly. Personally, I do not want to table Private Members' legislation in this House because it will take too long to do so and we will lose the opportunity to make an impact. I urge the Minister to tackle short-term lets in the next weeks or months which will result in a minimum of 2,500 units and maybe far more being available.