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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Housing and lease scheme

Summary

Interjections interrupt Senator McFadden, and the Chair warns not to discuss Dáil business. She continues urging a debate on housing and criticises poor take-up of the repair and lease scheme, before the Chair again draws the line.

It is committed to homelessness, all right.

Comment on this

-----and to housing those who are homeless. I feel there are a few things councils could look at doing. I would like the Minister to come to the House to have a debate with us on the issues. One of the things I am concerned about is the repair and lease scheme. It was instigated by the previous housing Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney. It is a very good scheme but it has not been taken up at all. I think only 15 people have taken it up in the last years.

My suggestion is that the councils may not be advertising it and pushing it enough. Perhaps the Minister could put pressure on them to promote it better. I am also worried about staffing issues and the lack of clerks of works. The clerk of works in Athlone and the south Westmeath area works on his own and is under pressure. Perhaps that is another way we could look at it. If we had the Minister in the House, we could discuss this with him.

Sinn Féin's motion of no confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government this evening is a stunt.

It does not have a monopoly on compassion. We all know everyone should have a home. I firmly believe calling for a vote on a motion of no confidence in the Minister will do nothing for the people who are living in hubs or for those who are on the housing waiting lists. Sinn Féin would be better served using its time tonight to come up with suggestions and solutions and trying to help the Government to house people who are looking for housing, instead of calling for votes of no confidence because, to me, such calls are stunts.

Comment on this
Denis O'Donovan An Cathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

Matters that are before the Dáil should not be discussed here. If a Member wants to table a motion before the House, we can have a discussion on it. I would prefer that this issue would not be referred to during the course of the Order of Business.

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