There are 20,000 applicants on local authority housing lists. That figure understates the real need because thousands more are unable to get on a housing list because of the unrealistic income limit of £10,000 per annum which most local authorities apply. The number on their housing lists is likely to increase by between 3,000 and 4,000 per annum for the foreseeable future, because as the recent ERU report on housing requirements states:
Despite a static or falling population in most areas of the state in the period to 1993, these remains a degree of buoyancy in the area of household formation.
What is the Government's response to the growing demand for housing? Since 1987 the Government have been reducing the provision of local authority housing. Last year the number of house completions was 768, down from 7,002 in 1984. For 1990, the Estimates provision was £51 million less than a quarter of the £206.5 million provided in 1984. The number of house starts planned for 1990 was 1,200. How many have actually started? At this rate it will take 20 years to clear the existing housing lists.
Every Member of this House knows the human hardship on families waiting for housing — the overcrowding, the family stress, and the rip-off by some of the private rented sector. There is a housing crisis and it is worsening. Those on the housing lists are becoming increasingly frustrated and housing authorities are becoming increasingly helpless. This housing crisis contains the potential for the greatest social unrest in the State for over two decades.
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Flynn, who I regret is not present for this debate, claims that there is no crisis and has repeatedly stated this in public. We can no longer afford the luxury of a Cabinet Minister who will not even acknowledge the greatest single problem facing his Department.
There are a specific number of things which I believe must now happen. The Minister for the Environment must admit that there is a housing crisis. If he fails to do so, he should resign. The Taoiseach, when he is reshuffling his Cabinet, should appoint a Minister with specific responsibility for housing.
The Government should adopt a three-year plan to bring down the housing lists, by committing themselves to the provision of 6,000 houses per annum over the next three years, either through construction, purchase, or sale and leaseback. This commitment should be reflected in the Estimates which are to be published shortly.
Additional funds should be committed to assist the voluntary housing sector, which has proved that it is the most efficient, and cost-effective method of providing houses at prices that people can afford.
The Minister should give the immediate go-ahead to housing schemes which have been proposed by local authorities, and local authorities should be given the freedom and responsibility to advance these schemes without departmental hindrance, so that those with the greatest housing need can be housed without further delay.
The Minister for the Environment has since 1987 presided over one of the worst housing records of any Minister since the foundation of this State. It is now causing misery for many families. My message to the Minister this evening is either to do the job or to hand it over to somebody who will show some understanding of the housing crisis. It is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment to resolve the housing crisis. Far from resolving it, he has stated publicly that no housing crisis exists. That situation cannot continue. He must acknowledge that there is a housing crisis and do something about it or do the honourable thing and resign his post.
