Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Ruane, Flynn, Black and Higgins for using their Private Members' time to highlight, yet again, the housing issues of concern to us all. I acknowledge that they have continuously done so over the past year and a half to two years. I welcome their guests, who are here to listen, engage and see what we are talking about and doing. I also recognise the work of the Minister of State, which is a critical component of all of this.

I acknowledge the Housing for All policy, which sets down objectives and targets. When the previous plan, Rebuilding Ireland, was introduced, I said to the then Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, when he was in this Chamber brandishing his yellow and orange book, that he was a very brave Minister to set out hundreds of targets and that he would be judged on them. I have not had an opportunity to judge the Minister of State personally and this is not a personal thing. This is Government policy and it is a Government document. We have a coalition Government with a very substantial majority. It has the wherewithal and power to deliver the plan and it certainly has resourced it, which I acknowledge. It will ultimately be held to account on the delivery of this document. To be fair to all the Ministers involved, they are always willing to come before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, of which several of us present are members, and tease out the issues. Housing and health will perhaps be the two big issues on which the Government is judged. As a previous speaker said, there are two or three years remaining in its term and a lot more work to do.

I thank the Senators who spoke about the real lived experiences of people they named and brought to life for us today. Their experiences resonate with us all and we are all aware of similar stories. When considering any motion that comes before us, identifying the problem is one thing but what is being asked for is another. Today, we are asked to consider 12 actions the Senators are calling on the Government to do. I intend to single out a few of them. The third ask is that the Government takes immediate action to bring the 4,000 vacant council homes owned by local authorities into use. It is a shocking indictment of any Administration that there are 4,000 publicly-owned homes not in use. At a time when the Government is dealing with other lists and assigning resources, this raises a question. City and county councillors in this country are embarrassed by this. They constantly ask questions of the officials and housing directorates as to what is happening, only to be told there is no funding from central government, it is a long, protracted process or it has not been agreed whether the properties will be demolished or renovated. There seem to be all sorts of excuses, some of them legitimate and others questionable. It is a disgrace that publicly-owned homes are not in use. This is not about purchasing properties. These homes across the country are in our ownership and the city and county councillors are totally frustrated by the lack of action. I want to get that message across loud and clear today. Our democratically elected local government members are as frustrated as anyone else in this regard. We need a fast, focused and strategic plan for how we are going to bring into use the 4,000 homes that are boarded up around the country.

The seventh action in the motion asks the Government to "recognise the traumatic impact of homelessness on the individuals and families affected, and commit to providing increased investment in wraparound supports". We all know such action is needed and recognise its importance.

The eighth ask is that the Government takes immediate action to deliver an end to direct provision. If ever we needed to talk about direct provision, it is this week. I hope we will welcome many people from Ukraine who come to our shores seeking refuge, support and hospitality. We do all of that well. I acknowledge that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who is responsible for this area, has done a great deal of work on it. The report we received last week from one of the children's advocacy groups noted that great progress has been made in this regard. I acknowledge that progress and want it to continue.

The ninth action calls for an audit of Traveller accommodation. That is important. Dare I say it again; the accommodation for Travellers in parts of Cork is a disgrace and has been singled out as such. People argue the point and suggest there is a vexatious element in issues being raised with the county executive. It is unacceptable.

I refer to a press release that was issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage yesterday welcoming the establishment of a working group on a referendum on housing. Another committee is being set up to discuss a referendum, which may take some time to complete its work. I acknowledge that the Housing Commission is doing great work. We know what its function is. However, the working group will have four additional members: Mr. Justice Frank Clarke, a former Chief Justice; Professor Gerry Whyte, professor of law at Trinity College; Professor Rosalind Dixon, professor of law; and Madeleine MacKenzie, Parliamentary Counsel for the Scottish Government's parliamentary office. When I saw the names, I asked myself what these people have in common. The answer is that they all have a home. Why are there no people with direct experience of homelessness on this sub-committee or on the commission?Why are no city or county councillors with vast experience in housing at the coalface of the delivery of housing and partnering with us in the delivery of the Minister of State's policy? Why are none of them on it? That begs the question. I ask the Minister of State to look at that. I acknowledge the work of the commission, however, which is positive. It is mandated to look at supply, tenure, quality of housing, sustainability, affordable housing and rural and social housing.

This is a timely debate. We have had many of these debates, however. We now need to start measuring the output, success, targets and delivery lines for Housing for All. I beg one question of the Minister of State, however. Why do we not have people who have experienced homelessness, and who tomorrow or next week will be in homeless accommodation, sitting around the table helping and suggesting solutions to tackle this crisis?