The Limerick Post is involving ordinary Limerick voters in our General Election coverage.
Representatives of different areas of Limerick society will get the opportunity to question the first 16 declared candidates on their policies and promises.
In the final part of the series, Mary, a single Limerick mother of three children living in hotel accommodation, puts her questions to the candidates with the help of Alan Jacques.
FOLLOWING a relationship break up last October, Mary was forced to move back to her parents’ house until she could find a proper home for herself and her three children.
FOLLOWING a relationship break up last October, Mary was forced to move back to her parents’ house until she could find a proper home for herself and her three children.The 28-year-old Limerick woman, who did not want to be identified, is still looking for a place to call her own. Three weeks ago the single mother was then forced to move out of her family home with her three boys aged 5 months, 3 and 8 years, due to irrevocable tensions.
With nowhere else to go, she made contact with the Council’s Homeless Action Team and later Novas Initiatives’ Intensive Family Support Unit. She was placed in hotel accommodation with her three lively, young children and says she is “grateful they are all together and have a roof over our heads”.
Mary has been on the social housing list for almost nine years and is currently trying to save for a deposit for rented accommodation.
“The cap for rent allowance with three children is €600 a month. I have been looking for four months for a place to live and there isn’t even a one-bedroom hovel available for that price,” She told the Limerick Post.
“To get a decent place you are looking at about €850 a month, which I can’t afford. I get €297 a week on One Parent Family Supplement. The rents are just too high for me.”
Mary says she is tired of the Government’s “false promises” and believes they should be building more social housing as a matter of priority. She also suggests that Rent Allowance should be more flexible to support families in dire need of housing.
“Me and my kids either live on takeaways or just eat out. We usually only sleep at the hotel and spend as little time there as possible. Thankfully my kids are too young to understand what is going on. A proper home for them shouldn’t be too much to ask for in this day and age.”
Mary has little faith in the Government and politicians in general, but she hopes that those seeking election will now work to make housing a basic human right for all.
CITY
James Gaffney (Green Party)
Have you a building plan for the area?
It is essential to invest in the development of urban centres to make them pleasant places to live and work. Investment in quality, sustainable housing in the city will be a priority for me if elected. The restoration of the National Spatial Strategy will inform the building plans for Limerick.
When will there be more social housing available?
It is unacceptable that homeless families are being accommodated in hotels. The current government has spectacularly failed to grasp this issue. I believe, and the Green Party believes, that all developments in a fair and equitable society must have social housing within them as a condition of planning permission.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
High rents are driven by the lack of rental accommodation which is in turn is driven by the lack of available houses and apartments which people can afford to buy. In Government I would work to increase the stock of rental accommodation in the city which will drive down rents.
Sarah Jane Hennelly (Social Democrats)
Have you a building plan for the area?
Yes, we believe in the state’s role in delivering a proper, first-class housing system. We want to replace the Housing Agency with one that works with private sector, local and regional authorities, NAMA, approved housing bodies and the Co-op movement to ensure delivery of supply and planning for the future
When will there be more social housing available?
We need to address housing security while also tackling public waiting lists. Under our plan, public waiting lists will reduce by a minimum 10,000 per year. We will also strengthen tenant security and reform the local property tax so its based on ability to pay.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
We are pushing for rent certainty and strengthening tenant’s rights. We would link future rent increases in areas of high rental inflation to the cost of living. We need an immediate increase in Rent Supplement/HAP limits as a short-term measure to prevent more homelessness.
Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fail)
Have you a building plan for the area?
We have a defined and costed programme to build 100,000 houses, 45,000 units of which would be Social Housing over the next 5 years. If we are in a position to implement that plan, I will ensure Limerick will get its’ fair share.
When will there be more social housing available?
We would make more social housing available immediately by instructing NAMA to release some of their housing stock for social housing. We would also provide funding to repair boarded up houses immediately and we would commence our building programme straight away.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the asking rent is so high?
Simply put, they can’t and they’re becoming homeless or a burden on their families as a result. We have detailed proposals to increase rent allowance in areas of greatest pressure including Limerick.
Kieran O’Donnell (Fine Gael)
Have you a building plan for the area?
Fine Gael have a plan to increase the housing supply, on a sustainable basis across the country, including Limerick.
When will there be more social housing available?
Fine Gael is committed to a Social Housing Strategy; over 110,000 social housing units by 2020, comprising of 35,000 new units and 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme. This will address the needs of those on waiting lists and provide some flexibility for increased demand.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
It is only by increasing housing supply that we can deliver a viable solution. The Department of Social Protection is increasing rent supplement on a case by case basis. Such an approach allows families to stay in their homes without an across the board increase pushing up rents for all.
Jan O’Sullivan (Labour Party)
Have you a building plan for the area?
The Government is providing the capital funding to enable the construction and refurbishment of homes across Limerick. €58million will be invested to produce more than 750 new homes by the end of next year. This is the beginning of a major injection of cash that will see the local authority and the not-for-profit sector constructing new homes.
When will there be more social housing available?
Projects are already in train to construct 110 new homes in Patrickswell, Adare, Hospital and Clonmacken in the City. This is in addition to the 500 homes that will come from Limerick Regeneration. Work is already underway on 83 new units at Lord Edward Street and plans are well advanced for housing at Sheep Street.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
In recent months, Labour has ensured that rents are frozen for the next two years so that people renting have certainty. We’ve also introduced the new Housing Assistance Payment which is more flexible than the rent allowance. However, rising rents are a concern and our plans to increase the supply of homes, including the supply of rental properties, will tackle that in the medium to long term.
Cian Prendiville (Anti Austerity Alliance)
Have you a building plan for the area?
Yes. The AAA believe a home is a right, not a commodity for developers and landlords to profiteer off of. We have proposed a plan to build 100,000 social and affordable houses by 2018, which would included thousands of houses for Limerick.
When will there be more social housing available?
This government has built less social houses than any in the history of the state. The reality is they don’t want to provide social housing, they want to leave my generation at the mercy of the big landlords. We cannot afford to wait any longer, we need social housing now.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
The reality is many simply cannot afford to rent and are being forced to emigrate, or live on couches. The AAA fight for rent controls, to stop the rapidly rising rents.
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein)
Have you a building plan for the area?
We have a plan to ensure 100,000 new social and affordable houses are delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies over the next 15 years. In Limerick, we would restore the hundreds of vacant properties throughout the city and county left idle by this Government.
When will there be more social housing available?
Over the period 2016-2021 Sinn Féin in Government will deliver 36,500 social and affordable homes. Every person has the right to adequate and appropriate housing and we will ensure that all new housing developments have a minimum allocation of 20 per cent social and affordable housing.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
Unfortunately they can’t. Successive governments have effectively outsourced housing to the private sector and rents have soared as a result. Sinn Féin will legislate for rent certainty, introduce a tenants rights charter, and amend the residential tenancy act to restrict the grounds on which landlords can serve notice to quit.
COUNTY
Seamus Browne (Sinn Fein)
Have you a building plan for the area?
Sinn Féin has a comprehensive and fully costed plan to deliver 100,000 social and affordable homes by 2030. We must also ensure security and certainty for tenants and support for homeowners and buyers.
When will there be more social housing available?
As soon as we have a progressive government with the political will to build them. The resources exist but the ideology of government is the real barrier. In the first six months of 2015, only 499 social houses were built, down from 4,209 in 2005.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
Renters needed the government to take strong action to bring rents under control. They did the exact opposite. This led to substantial rent increases before Christmas. Sinn Féin would introduce legislation to link rents to the rate of inflation and limit rent increases over a period of time.
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail)
Have you a building plan for the area?
Minister Kelly’s Social Housing Strategy is not working. While there are over 4,200 households on the social housing waiting list in Limerick – a 56 per cent increase since 2013 – only 22 social homes were built in Limerick from 2011 to 2016. Fianna Fáil has a fully costed plan for 150,000 new social, affordable and private homes by 2021.
When will there be more social housing available?
FF will investment €5.48billion in social home construction, leading to at least 2,000 new social homes in Limerick and 45,000 nationwide by 2021. There are also 250 vacant homes in Limerick city that the Minister is refusing to refurbish, these can be refurbished by end of 2016.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
There are more than 750 families and almost 1,700 children sleeping in emergency homeless accommodation nationwide. In Limerick, rent supplement thresholds are 15 per cent below average rents for families and 41 per cent and implement of a system of rent stability and certainty measures.
James Heffernan (Social Democrats)
Have you a building plan for the area?
Instead of just building houses we need to build communities. I see town centres vacant, instead of large scale social housing developments, we should be using a variety of models to bring people back to the town centres and utilise buildings like old convents to create community supported living spaces.
When will there be more social housing available?
Housing has been my top priority over the past five years. We need social housing now; the Social Democrats have a target of reducing the housing list by 10,000 a year. To achieve this, we need a national plan involving councils, NAMA, approved housing bodies, the co-operative movement and the private sector.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
Rent supplement limits have to increase immediately to give people a fighting chance of keeping roofs over their heads. Rents must be linked to increases in the cost of living to keep housing affordable. Tenant rights on security of tenure have also to be strengthened.
Mark Keogh (Direct Democracy Ireland)
Have you a building plan for the area?
There will be a National Housing Agency established to provide social housing, 10 per cent of which should be affordable. There should also be a use of vacant homes in possession of NAMA/Banks for the current social housing lists and homeless crisis.
When will there be more social housing available?
Social housing must be immediately available. There are currently 280,000 unoccupied homes in Ireland which equates to 74 houses for every homeless person. How does that make sense in the current crisis?
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
DDI will demand an increase in rent supplement and demand rent certainty. The government’s failure to raise the rent supplement is locking people into homeless services. Local property tax and water charges are a factor in rising rents. Landlords are not absorbing these costs.
Tom Neville (Fine Gael)
Have you a building plan for the area?
Nationally NAMA will build 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020. This will be in conjunction with the ongoing Social Housing Strategy, which will deliver 35,000 new social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion by 2020. Limerick will see more houses as part of this plan
When will there be more social housing available?
35,000 new social housing units nationally will be built over the lifetime of the next government. It is imperative that all parts of these projects are adhered to as soon as possible in order to increase supply. This will also generate more employment in the construction sector.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
The ultimate solution to the housing situation is a sustainable supply of affordable housing, so the number one priority is to increase supply. Mortgage deposit relief should be explored along with continuos monitoring of rent allowance in order to arrive at practical solutions. Getting people back to work and making work pay will also help.
Emmett O’Brien (Independent)
Have you a building plan for the area?
If I am in the position to influence Government policy it will be a high priority to ensure that Limerick City & County Council provides suitable social housing.
When will there be more social housing available?
Limerick City and County Council has a programme to build approximately 50 social houses in the County but with over nearly 4000 on the social housing list we far more hosing built or bought.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
The Housing Assistance Payment does supplement rent payment for tenants but in many cases it is too low. The actual solution is for central government to provide funding to the Council to increase supply.
Richard O’Donoghue (Independent)
Have you a building plan for the area?
I am already involved in addressing planning issues, in particular planning restrictions at council level. We need to address these issues before we can formulate a building plan. In the light of the recent flooding, I believe that surface water levels should be taken at road rather than field level.
When will there be more social housing available?
A thorough audit needs to be carried out to establish the quantities of vacant council premises and unfinished building sites in the county before we embark on further building projects. The Council needs to work with the appropriate bodies to complete these unfinished developments to increase the availability of social housing.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
The rent allowance has not kept pace with private rents. We need to set up a body to investigate this and come up with a solution which is both acceptable and fair to the private landlords and to the families and tenants seeking accommodation.
Patrick O’Donovan (Fine Gael)
Have you a building plan for the area?
The Government have a major social housing programme which has been planned by the Department of the Environment and been rolled out through all local authorities. These are being decided based on the numbers of people that are on each local authority housing list.
When will there be more social housing available?
Now that we have a growing economy and are able to invest in the construction of houses, we want to make sure that they are built in the areas of greatest need. These houses have to be planned and in many cases the sites have to be acquired so it is not possible to give exact dates.
How can people rent privately when the rent allowance is so low and the cost is so high?
The best way to address this is to increase the supply of houses in the private and public sector. Due to the collapse in the economy in 2008 there was virtually no house construction so there is a major shortage. The growth in the economy along with the investment in social housing will help deliver results here.
