Housing strategy and vacant homes
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae raised concerns about housing policy in Kerry, including how the vacant-home leasing idea would affect elderly people and their pensions. The Taoiseach replied that there were 122 social houses being built in Kerry and clarified that the Minister was referring to vacant homes under the repair-and-leasing scheme, not occupied houses.
The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, was in Kerry yesterday, outlining the housing strategy to deal with the housing crisis. However, more needs to be done before many of these actions or policies will work. Yesterday, the Minister said if elderly people moved in with a son or a daughter, they could then rent their house to the local authority and it could become available for social housing. This announcement has been queried by many elderly people since. Having inquired into this, I note the pension entitlements for a person on a non-contributory pension taking up this offer would be affected. What the Minister spoke about will not become a reality if he does not provide an incentive. Why would a person on a non-contributory pension give up their house for this leasing scheme if no incentive is provided? No elderly people will harm their pension if some incentive is not provided.
Comment on this
I will point out to the Deputy, as the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, did yesterday, there are currently 122 social houses being built in Kerry, 122 more than last year.
Comment on this
The Minister was not referring to houses that are currently occupied but ones which are vacant and could be made available for people to live in. The repair and leasing scheme that the Minister referred to yesterday deals with vacant houses which could be brought back to quality habitable houses in which people could live in comfort.
Comment on this
Will the Taoiseach deal with the question?