Homelessness is an absolute priority issue for me and the Government. Thankfully, in the last year, year-on-year, we have seen a significant reduction in homelessness, both in child and family homelessness and overall. There are issues with single person homelessness, rates of which remain stubbornly high. The overall number of people who are homeless is still far too high. All of us would agree with that assertion. The monthly figures will be published tomorrow. I have seen the preliminary figures and the trend wi…

Yesterday evening we brought forward the fifth piece of tenancy and rental legislation since I was appointed Minister. We have been to the fore in the areas of rent and protection for tenants. Last August, when we exited out of the blanket ban on evictions that was in place, we did so on the basis of very strong legal advice that we had received, that any measures that we take must be proportionate. Whether Deputies want to acknowledge it or not, we must balance the rights of the property owner and, indeed, the ten…

The April 2021 price index released by the CSO shows in general a rising trend in house prices with some variations across areas and property type. These increases must be viewed in the context of the preceding year, which included national lockdowns and restrictions on movement, which impacted severely on the construction sector and our supply. Obviously, there has been a lot of pressure on the second-hand market and the ability of sellers and purchasers to engage in normal sales activity, including physical viewi…

The measures I have brought forward in the Affordable Housing Bill and housing for all are supply-side measures because we need to get supply up to at least an average of 33,000 per year. Last year, there were just over 20,000 completions. This year, on the best projections we have so far, there will probably be up to 18,000. The reality is that when the market, production and capacity are constrained, there is additional pressure on the second-hand homes market in particular. The Deputy referred to the bidding war…

This Government believes in home ownership. In his earlier contribution, the Deputy bemoaned the fact that the average age of someone buying his or her first home has increased to 38. I have been raising this issue for a number of years but the difference is that we are doing something about it. A shared equity scheme is part of the Affordable Housing Bill, which will come to the House this evening and which I hope the Social Democrats will support. This shared equity scheme is focused on those who need it most. It…

I know the Deputy has a close relationship with that particular publication. I cannot say I read the article. My Department engaged the ESRI to undertake independent research into structural housing demand in Ireland right up to 2040. The findings of the ESRI on structural housing demand at county level were published last December so I am familiar with that. Based on that research and factoring in existing demand together with future projected demand, we know the State will probably require an average of 33,000 ne…

We will have annual targets. I hope the Deputy's party and other parties opposite will recognise that, to reach those targets, they need to support development. They need to support building and stop voting against housing developments and proposals brought forward at local authorities across the country. I referenced to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan probably the most significant scheme in Dublin this year, comprising 1,200 homes, which both Deputy Ó Broin's party and Deputy O'Callaghan's party opposed. There are also th…

There will be a number of measures to help us deliver the affordable homes we need. One will be the Affordable Housing Bill, which I hope the Deputy's party and others will support, and another is the Land Development Agency, which will enable us to use our State land productively. I was taken aback when Deputy Ó Broin and his party admitted they wanted a Land Development Agency but do not want a State agency involved in residential development or building and, more strikingly, the Deputy said on the record of the …

There is lots of good news. To answer the Deputy's question, there is also good news for County Clare because we have a housing plan backed with real resources and the largest housing budget in the history of the State, which the Deputy supported, underpinned by investment of €3.3 billion in housing programmes in budget 2021. We have a national target of 12,750 social homes, 9,500 of which are new builds. There will be an impact due to Covid but we are doing our best to make up as much lost ground as we can. In Cou…

I thank Deputy Crowe. There is a committed and dedicated housing team in Clare County Council. I intend to visit in July to look at some of the schemes myself. I look forward to meeting the Deputy there. We need to increase new stock. We have outlined that and will be ambitious. We also need to look at existing stock. Clare County Council, through the work of its housing director, chief executive, and teams on the ground, was successful last year and brought 77 vacant homes back into use with funding of €1.5 millio…

We have very strong representation from the banner county this morning. It is good to see the Deputies working together to deliver homes for our people. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, is doing Trojan work in the area of Traveller accommodation, with a budget of €15.5 million that will be and is being spent, all of it being used on the capital side. We want to see our local authorities using the funds that are being provided by the Government to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation. The…

I thank the Deputy for the question for his interest in this matter. As the Deputy will know, statutory responsibility for the provision of homeless services rests with each individual housing authority. My Department's role in homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and, importantly, the funding to underpin the role of the housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Thankfully, as I said earlier, we are seeing significant improvements in that area yea…

Anyone who is aware of a specific instance of a breach should bring it directly to my attention. I want to make sure that those who are in emergency accommodation are only in it in the short term. It is not a permanent solution for them or their families. The use by families of emergency accommodation, particularly in hotels, has, thankfully, reduced by 80% year on year. I do not mind telling the Deputy that I have had discussions with the DRHE about the national quality standards framework, NQSF, and how it may be…

I reiterate that the responsibility for the provision of homeless services is with the housing authority in each of the local authorities. We provide the policy framework and funding for them to do it. That is important because each local authority and its staff know an area better than a central authority would. The issue is acute in Dublin because that is where the majority of homeless people present. Dublin also contains the majority of homeless services. I regularly meet with representatives of the DRHE, Dublin…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to be here today to speak on Second Stage of the Affordable Housing Bill 2021. This has been the culmination of nearly a year's work by me and my departmental officials, along with members of the Oireachtas committee, who did much work to get us to this stage. The Bill has been passed through the Seanad, as Members know, and what is now coming before the Dáil is very important legislation. It is a major priority for me, as the Minister responsible…

I said it.

Does the Deputy know his party is supporting the Bill?

It is good to have the Deputy back in the Chamber. I thought he had gone missing last night. It is good to have him back.

We appreciate the Deputy's support for the Bill. Fair play to him. He should get back on message.

It is the cost of building and managing. We will go through it on Committee Stage.