Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the crisis relating to homelessness. The reality is that people are dying on our streets. Two people died last week. I believe most citizens would give up tax cuts in order to ensure that children have homes at Christmas. All children have a basic human right to have homes. Almost 8,500 people are homeless and, of these, more than 3,000 are children. I know that Members have heard these statistics many times but I feel I have to highlight them again. We are facing a major crisis that needs to be addressed. We must do everything we can to bring about change. The first thing we must do is that which must be done in dealing with any problem - that is, it must be named. I want to do this today. We have a crisis and we must put in place the resources necessary to address it. The Government should take the lead in respect of this matter. It would be fantastic if the Government did so.

In a country as rich as Ireland, it is disgraceful that people are being forced out of their homes by banks and unscrupulous landlords. Until the State provides housing for its citizens, people will continue to be housed in unsafe accommodation and will continue to pay high rents. This will continue until there is a fire at one of the premises in question and people are killed. There is an urgent need for a holistic approach to be taken in respect of housing in Ireland. Such an approach would include taking account of the needs of new communities and low-paid workers and giving security to all people who live in this country. Vulture funds and banks cannot be relied upon to look after the most vulnerable in society because their primary aim is to maximise profits.

The welfare of the people is the duty of the State. The National Homeless and Housing Coalition has come together in order to start addressing these issues. It is calling on the Government to take immediate action as follows: to declare a national housing emergency; immediately acquire properties that are available through NAMA and transfer to councils for those on the housing waiting list; introduce measure's that will facilitate access to finance and build as many social housing units in the next five years as is possible; introduce measures that limit rent increases and escalating rents; end the practice of evicting families who show genuine financial distress in mortgage repayments; and introduce a 30% increase in rent allowance and HAP to enable access to rented accommodation while the supply problems in public housing are addressed.

As public representatives, we have an obligation to ensure that everybody has a home. We must never minimise the problem or blame the people who find themselves without homes. We must all work together. It is a terrible to think that people are going to be out in the freezing cold at Christmas. I urge that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government come to the House in order that we might engage in a debate on this issue.