Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is welcome to the House. I wish him well in his portfolio. He has taken on the role with gusto. I believe he will make changes to affordable and social housing and I have great confidence in him.

I will support the Bill and a number of the proposed amendments. While it gives certainty to those who are renting and bans evictions, my main concern is the ten-day grace period, which is simply not sufficient as we approach Christmas. Many families are very fearful as we face into the level 5 restrictions. Some will have the prospect of eviction hanging over their heads and will only have a ten-day grace period following the lifting of the restrictions as we approach Christmas. We could have done a little better on that. I am not sure if the Minister will accept any of the amendments but I will support a number of them.

The proposal to have the measures kick in again if the 5 km restriction on travel is reintroduced should be reviewed. I would welcome an extension of that provision to 20 km.

We have 3,400 children and 10,500 people living in homeless accommodation. This is an uncertain time for them. I ask the Minister to advise us on how he plans to deal with that issue. During the previous lockdown, homeless figures decreased. I am sure the Minister has a plan to deal with this issue and I would like to hear it.