Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome. I thank him for coming to the House. One of the most unhelpful features of the debate on this issue is the continuing discrepancy between official Government statistics on housing and homelessness and the reality as experienced by voluntary groups on the front line. COPE Galway, an excellent organisation working with homeless families, has pointed out serious discrepancies. Official figures issued by the Department late last year indicate that 68 families and 154 children were homeless in the entire west region comprising counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. However, Cope Galway carried out a census during the same period which showed that 86 families and 197 were living in emergency accommodation provided by Cope Galway or other providers. If there is a significant discrepancy such as that in Galway, is it happening elsewhere?

On social housing, the Government deserves the benefit of the doubt in regard to its efforts on this issue. People should not rush to judgment. However, I know of a voluntary body operating in Dublin which is very eager to progress a proposal to develop a small set of social housing units in the city centre. It would be built under an approved housing body, with Dublin City Council retaining the nomination rights in regard to allocating the houses once completed. The proposal was originally made to the Minister and officials of Dublin City Council in January 2018. However, the voluntary body is concerned that there has been no progress since then. It remains eager to progress the matter and develop the social housing units. In light of the current situation, how is it possible for a proposal such as that not to progress in 12 months? There is goodwill towards the Government, which faces a difficult challenge. The group remains very eager to progress the development. If I were to follow up privately and provide the Minister with the details, could action be taken on it?

The 4,000 Dublin City Council housing units which are vacant at any one time must be part of the problem. It is an extraordinarily high figure. Will the Minister provide more information to help us understand it? At what point do people who refuse an offer of housing lose their place on a waiting list? Is this something that comes under consideration? How many people on the social housing waiting list have jobs? Do people enter into discussion regarding the feasibility of moving location to where there might be available housing units? That is a fair question to ask. Obviously, one asks these questions with great sensitivity, but in the normal run of life, people must sometimes move house to work. Is this something that arises in the context of the Government's attempt to solve this problem? As I said, these are issues which must be handled with sensitivity and great respect for the person, but the taxpayer is entitled to know what kind of conditionality and compromises are sought and can be made.

What are the views of the Minister on the use of prefabricated housing accommodation and its suitability as an alternative to traditional housing in many places? I was not present for his entire speech and apologise if he has addressed that matter. Does he agree that prefabricated housing can only be an acceptable solution if all of the ancillary amenities in terms of green space and access to important facilities are guaranteed and there is due attention to the needs of families and young people in particular? I would be grateful for the Minister's views in that regard.