Seanad debates

Wednesday, 29 June 2022

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:00 am

Photo of Paul GavanPaul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend our colleague Senator Flynn on her fine speech in respect of Traveller education. I extend a warm welcome to the mayor Joe Kelly and his wife. It is great to see them here.

Something very significant happened in Limerick City and County Council last week. The following motion was put to the council:

This council calls on the Government and the Minister for Housing to declare a housing emergency and to use emergency powers to introduce an immediate moratorium on evictions, similar to that during Covid, to be reviewed after three months; and that the Minister increase the income threshold limits for social housing supports during this time.

The motion was introduced by my colleague, Councillor Sharon Benson, and supported by my other colleague, Councillor Tom Collopy. I am glad to say it received unanimous support. Councillors from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and all parties signed up to that motion, which has since been distributed to authorities throughout the State. It is highly significant that councillors in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are now recognising what Sinn Féin has been saying for years, which is that we have a housing emergency and carrying on the same old fashion simply is not good enough. I wonder whether Senators in this Chamber would have the courage to stand up and stand with their colleagues in Limerick City and County Council in acknowledging that we need a moratorium now. There is a deluge of eviction notices in Limerick. I am sure it is no different across the State.

These are political choices. That is what we are talking about. Every day the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage refuses to raise the income threshold, which is a ridiculous €30,000 in Limerick, and every day he continues to ignore the report that has been on his desk since December is a political choice that only compounds the homelessness issue across our State. We need an urgent debate on housing. We need the Minister to finally wake up and raise those income thresholds now, before the summer recess. Too many people are excluded. People earning €35,000 or €40,000, which are average incomes, have no support from the State. They are basically told they cannot even join a list for housing.It is a disgrace and one that sits firmly at the feet of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. We need action and we need it now. I ask for that debate.

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