Voluntary relocation housing scheme
Deputy Harty sought a voluntary relocation scheme for people on housing lists to move to areas with available housing. The Tánaiste said he was aware of successful similar projects, would check with the Housing Minister, and come back with an update.
I refer to an issue I have raised on a number of occasions about the housing crisis and the commitment given in A Programme for a Partnership Government to address it, that is, a voluntary relocation scheme under which people on housing lists or in high pressure areas would be offered the opportunity to relocate to towns and villages in which there is a surplus of accommodation. There should be a scheme to encourage people who wish to move, on a voluntary basis, to towns and villages and allow them to integrate into those societies. The Peter McVerry Trust is very interested in supporting people who would make that move by putting in place supports to help them. Does the Government intend to actively pursue putting in place such a voluntary relocation scheme?
Comment on this
I have been involved with the Peter McVerry Trust on schemes such as this, under which premises have been built or purchased and people who were homeless moved from other counties or cities to new areas successfully. I am not aware that there is a formal scheme to which local authorities can apply, but it something at which we have looked. I will check with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and come back to the Deputy on the matter.