First, I should like to thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. I hope that in his reply the Minister of State will not refer to my observations on this serious problem as hysterical comments for political purposes. I want to state clearly that my objective in raising this matter is to focus attention on the serious problems being experienced by those in need of rehousing by their local authority. This matter only received attention after two years of continuous pressure, by the council by way of resolutions, on the Department pointing out the need for additional funds to enable the local authority to provide housing for people in this category.
As far back as July a deputation of officers and members of the council and public representatives from Killarney met the Minister of State to discuss the urgent need for additional funds. We were exceptionally well received by the Minister of State. We impressed on him the urgency of the matter and he indicated that he would be having discussions with financial institutions with a view to getting agreement or to raise additional funds to what was available in the budget to provide additional housing. Unfortunately, the reply to that deputation was in the negative.
I have with me tonight a copy of a list of the 63 applicants on the housing list at 24 October 1990 which was sent by the housing manager to each member of the council. All these applications have been investigated and cleared. Not only are all of these applicants in need of rehousing but they are incapable at providing housing for themselves from their own resources. The responsibility for providing this housing falls on the council and the manager who must ensure that their applications are processed through the proper channels. Many of these families have been on the waiting list for up to three years. It is particularly difficult to get housing in Killarney for these people.
Even when this housing is secured, it is very expensive. This adds to the mental and physical pressures on the families concerned. Therefore, it is incumbent on all of us to be realistic in our approach to this very serious social problem. The longer a solution to this problem is deferred the more serious the problem will get.
Land to build these houses is available and the contractors and builders are waiting to start work. The only thing holding up the building of 50 houses, which would alleviate the problems of these families, is goodwill and the necessary finance from the Department. As I have said, the longer this decision is deferred the more serious the problem will get, and it may take many years to resolve.
I appeal to the Minister of State to recognise the urgency of this issue. Those families are in urgent need of housing and they will not accept fiscal rectitude or the need to balance the books as reasons for denying them proper housing.
