Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was the Acting Chair for the first hour of the debate, so I have had time to reflect. While there are difficulties out there and undoubtedly there is a crisis in not just the rental side of things but the overall general housing picture, Housing for All has had some positive impact on the crisis and that is sometimes lost in these debates. We can all probably name different schemes across our own city and county across the country. Looking at my own constituency, there are 150-odd units of social and affordable houses on Boherboy Road. I look at Montenotte, where there will be 80 social and affordable houses delivered. In addition, there are three or four schemes across Blackpool into Farranree and out to Bishopstown. Many of those schemes did not happen for the past decade. They are starting, albeit slowly. They are starting now and will, in time, have a positive impact.

Just before me, Deputy Griffin mentioned the repair and lease scheme. It is a big bugbear of mine because I see different counties, such as the Acting Chair’s county of Waterford, that are excelling at the introduction of the repair and lease scheme and delivering a fairly steady stream of properties back to supply. Unfortunately, some local authorities, including my own, for one reason or another, do not seem to be engaging with the repair and lease scheme as well as other local authorities are. I urge the Minister of State, Deputy Noon, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, to set targets for local authorities when it comes to delivering under those schemes. It is incumbent on us to set ambitious targets that they have to deliver.

Cost rental was mentioned as well. I was lucky enough, again, to have a scheme in my own town, Glanmire, where we have 30-odd units of cost rental currently out for advertisement and due to be filled shortly. The scheme is very welcome, but it was inundated with applications. It is clear that there is a market for that cost rental model, which will reduce rents from between 30% and 50%. I would like to see a greater extension of that.

Unlike others, I was aware of the fact that local authorities can purchase housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies at the moment and have been able to do that for some time. However, again, it seems to be that some local authorities are doing better than others. My own local authority is currently working on a policy in relation to that. The Minister mentioned that more than 300 houses across the country have been purchased to keep HAP and rental accommodation scheme, RAS, tenants in situand that is very welcome. I will remind my two local authorities of that figure in the morning. However, as I said, it is very disparate and disjointed. Clarity needs to be brought to that.

It is worth bearing in mind as well the Croí Cónaithe scheme as it was announced a number of months ago. To be fair to the Minister, he listened in the past few months and again extended that. I was looking at villages such as Carrignavar and Whitechurch in my area, which are only ten minutes from the city centre, but are largely rural villages. People were restricted from availing of the Croí Cónaithe fund perhaps a couple of hundred metres from outside a village. It is great it see that scheme extended as well. The take-up on that will take off in the coming months because it is a worthwhile scheme. It is worthwhile mentioning that many in the Opposition are against that scheme, which supplies a grant of up to €50,000 for people to bring those derelict properties back into habitation.

As I have said to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, I am disappointed with some local authorities and their engagement with the single stage scheme. The vast majority of local authorities engage with a four-step scheme for borrowing for the reintroduction of social housing into the market. However, for some reason, there is very low take-up on the single stage scheme across the country in all local authorities, even in some local authorities in Dublin where one would think that there would be a higher demand than other local authorities. Certain councils are not availing of it for any scheme whatsoever. It is baffling for me, as a public representative, when I scheme where a local authority can avail of up to €6 million not being accessed for one reason or another. Local authorities are saying that they are reluctant to use it because of the risk involved. Officials in the Minister’s Department say that no such risk exists and local authorities will be covered. Again, clarity needs to be brought to that. We are sitting here, twiddling our thumbs, when that fund is available and accessible. As I said, there is no restriction on the number of times that a local authority can apply for it and it is up to €6 million per scheme.

Finally, there is a debate here tonight. Over the past few days, I have made my opinion on it quite clear in relation to the concrete levy. I am not against a levy; I am just against the timing of this. Obviously, the Sinn Féin motion tonight will discuss it and a vote tomorrow will ensue. It is worth remembering, when all the social media videos will be packaged and snipped at some time this evening and tomorrow, that it needs to be stated that all Opposition parties that I am aware of are in favour of the concrete levy scheme in one shape or another. I apologise, as the Social Democrats is not. The vast majority is. People need to be reminded of that when all those social media videos hit Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at some stage in the next 24 hours. Deputy Pearse Doherty said as recently as 28 September that he welcomed "the defective concrete products levy. It is clear, however, that the Government has not provided enough to fund the scheme." Is he suggesting that there is a greater levy his Bill later? I just hope that comes across in the videos and the social media.

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