Social housing and rent caps
Seán Ó Fearghaíl questions the Government’s commitment to social housing, citing calls for higher rent caps, and asks when the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will appear. The Tánaiste defends the Government’s substantial housing programme and says work on the Bill is continuing.
In the context of the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill which is promised, and given the Tánaiste's dismissal of the points raised by Deputy Ó Cuív this morning and by Simon Communities Ireland, are we now to conclude that social housing is no longer a red-line issue for the Labour Party? Does she as readily dismiss the points made by a person who is very well known to her, namely, Mr. Mike Allen of Focus Ireland, who called this morning for an increase in rent caps?
When might we expect to have sight of the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill?
On the last day the Tánaiste took Leaders' Questions, we raised the issue of the Dunnes Stores dispute and she promised legislation in this area. I suggested to her at that time that she might lift the telephone and talk to Margaret Heffernan, which I doubt she has done, but I again suggest she would do that. In the meantime Members of this House have recently met the groups of unions representing Bord na Móna workers who now find themselves in a position where their terms of employment are under threat by a company that is profit-making, a company the management of which is no doubt emboldened by what it sees happening in Dunnes Stores. Will the legislation the Tánaiste promised to bring forward address the issues that are now arising for Bord na Móna workers? Will she ask her colleague, the Minister, Deputy Alex White, to intervene in this particular matter?
Comment on this
In respect of the social housing programme, as the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed in the budget, and is now implementing, the largest social housing programme this State has seen in a very long time. The Deputy will be aware also that the Minister launched the details of allocations to the various county councils around the country , including Kildare County Council. Building more houses is one of the Government's principal objectives to which a very significant element of the capital programme has been devoted.
In respect of the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, I understand it will be ready later this year but the capital programme is proceeding. The sites will be opened up again and families will get the houses they need. That is the important point. We have invested taxpayers' money to do this.