Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Here we are again making statements on housing. It is impressive to hear the Minister talk about the numbers of houses being built, etc., but if I talk to people in my constituency in Waterford or meet people here in Dublin, the word on the street is that we still have a housing crisis. The articles I read in the newspapers are still about those who are suffering because of affordability. Their salary is not sufficient to enable them to afford to buy a house. Their salary is not sufficient to enable them to afford renting. There are students who cannot afford the rent. When one looks at the situation on the ground and when one hears what the Minister is saying, it just does not seem to match up.

I refer to a Goodbody report that I saw on Monday last which found that Ireland's level of housing output is among the lowest in Europe with only 2,367 housing units built during the first three months of 2018. It is clear that we are not meeting the level of demand. The numbers are based on building energy regulation applications rather than the number of ESB connections that the Department uses but the building energy regulation, BER, applications are a better indication of whether the houses are actually appearing on the market. I cannot understand the disparity between the numbers in the Goodbody report and the numbers listed by the Department under Rebuilding Ireland.

Apart from the issue of completions, we have problems that come from the developer-led approach to housing and construction. These include, as I stated, the lack of affordability. They also include problems with regard to quality and the real menace, that plagues me and leads to misery with regard to housing, of land speculation. Investors bought almost one fifth of all homes on sale in Ireland in 2017 which inflated prices and rents. This problem will likely only worsen in the face of Brexit as already we see people start to move out of the London property market. These may decide to invest their moneys here in Ireland, as the nearest English-speaking country. In fact, this would worsen the problem here considerably.

From the evidence I see and the reports I read, we are still in this housing crisis. In this crisis we still see private developers hoarding land in derelict and vacant sites. I commend the Government on finally getting around to the implementation of the vacant site levy next year and the increase, to 7%, in the rate in year 2, as argued so heavily in the Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill I introduced to this House last year. The local authority in Waterford states that even if that 7% levy is applied, it will be difficult to bring it in. It is difficult for the local authorities to ensure that 7% will be paid up. We have thus crossed the line of constricting private property rights regarding housing and construction, and without facing the wrath of the courts. I welcome the move and I hope that it will yield new development over the coming years. I hope a system will be put in place whereby the local authorities will be able to draw down the 7%.

Ten thousand people were on the streets of Dublin last month marching with the housing and homeless coalition protest and many of my Green Party colleagues from around the country were there to add their voice. My colleagues were calling for a socially-minded housing policy that helps the homeless and restricts speculators. The Minister mentioned in his presentation the Government's support for the cost rental model. This is something the Green Party will be focusing heavily on at a constituency level, identifying public spaces suitable for development in high-pressure areas. I am glad to hear that on this we can work with the Government to help identify and increase the supply of high-quality and affordable rental property.

In the fit of the information the Minister is providing with the message and the reality out on the streets, one might say there is a gap. There will be an acceleration of activity. Hopefully, under the Minister's stewardship over the coming months we will see a change from what is perceived as a housing crisis and be in a position to stop using phrases such as "housing crisis" and "homelessness crisis".