Housing miscellaneous provisions Bill
Deputy Smith raises homelessness and poor access to private rental accommodation for people on HAP and RAS, and asks when the housing Bill will come before the Dáil. The Taoiseach says housing supply is the core issue and expects the Bill to be debated in about three weeks.
When the Simon Community’s latest report was released, it showed very clearly that the people least able to access private rental accommodation are those on the lowest incomes, those dependent on the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and those on the rental accommodation scheme, RAS.
If the Taoiseach reads the Simon Community report he will see that they are not able to get rented accommodation. The housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is down for priority in the autumn schedule, but will the Taoiseach give me the exact date it will come before the Dáil? That legislation will be mainly about fast-tracking the planning process. How will that help those who today cannot access private rented accommodation, despite being supported by the State to do so, because the rents are so high and landlords do not want them? We have a real problem in this regard, with over-reliance on the market, a lack of social housing, and a Bill that is being brought forward to fast-track planning. That needs to be addressed, but we need a debate on it as soon as possible. I ask the Taoiseach to comment on the latest report from the Simon Community.
Comment on this
The point Deputy Smith raises deals with the real problem, which is a supply of housing.
Comment on this
Social housing.
Comment on this
Social housing and other housing. The shortage of housing supply has been the main cause of the problem because of the collapse of the entire construction industry during and after the recession. That is the focus of the housing programme put forward by Government. I expect the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be debated here - I do not know the exact date - in three weeks' time.