Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join Senators Ardagh and Murnane O'Connor in expressing serious concern at the ever-increasing numbers of people sleeping rough in Dublin. While recent press coverage talks about the city, people are sleeping rough throughout the county.I believe that the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive showed that recently. I note from the Taoiseach's commentary earlier that he was disappointed with the latest figures. When one couples this with the thousands of people who protested last weekend about housing - they are not all wrong - we have to sit up and listen. If we have to change direction, then so be it. At this stage we have to take on board that people are genuinely concerned. People are priced out of homes, be they to purchase or to rent; it is a crisis situation. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government can exercise special powers under special circumstances. If a national emergency on housing is declared, I am advised that he could use some of these powers. We have a crisis situation in every local authority, but especially in the four Dublin local authorities. They are at breaking point with staff totally frustrated at having to turn people away day after day. We should have another discussion on what direction the Government is going.

On more positive news, as a result of our Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, which is now the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018, I am happy to say that the regulations to scrap planning fees for elected members of councils were signed by the Minister on Friday. I have a copy in front of me. The Minister also authorised councillors to seek a report on a variation to a proposed county development plan change by the elected members. Some 900 councillors lobbied strongly on those two issues. They are welcome changes and are now embedded. These are two issues that some Senators got over the line, despite significant opposition from the Government of the day and other Senators. I am glad that local authority members are delighted with that.