Pyrite and housing legislation
Thomas P. Broughan asks about stalled pyrite legislation and the housing crisis, including homelessness and problems with rental supports. The Taoiseach says a pyrite board Bill is being prepared and housing Bill heads are due by year-end.
The pyrite levy Bill is still on the clár. Did the Taoiseach inform the House that it would not proceed?
On the housing Bill, the Taoiseach may be aware from conversations with Government Deputies that public housing provision in the Dublin City Council area has collapsed and that the rental accommodation scheme is simply not working. We have an increasing number of homeless families, many of whom face the prospect of homelessness this Christmas. The Taoiseach is the man in charge. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with responsibility for housing is not delivering even remotely near the number of homes we need.
Comment on this
Will the Taoiseach take a hands-on approach to it?
Comment on this
The pyrite levy Bill which is still on the Order Paper relates to a proposed mechanism to fund dealing with the pyrite problem. It is not being proceeded with and work is under way on legislation to establish the pyrite board. That Bill will be published shortly.
The heads of the housing Bill are due by the end of the year and will be published early next year with a view to implementing the legislation. Housing and homelessness are important issues and I have referred to them recently in response to questions. The Minister of State with responsibility for housing is concerned about the matter. She is in contact with the agencies dealing with the homeless, the various categories of homelessness and the reasons for homelessness.