Danny Healy-Rae urges protection for tenants facing eviction
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in the Dáil about evictions and housing pressure, urging protections for tenants and changes to the housing list income cap. He thanked the Labour Party for bringing the motion and called for measures to stop people being evicted or removed from housing lists when they receive family income supplement.
Key points
He emphasised that everyone is entitled to a roof over their head and said the Dáil should strive to ensure everyone ends up with a house. He noted that while 99% of landlords are good operators, rogue landlords exist and those cannot be supported.
Housing list cap and family income supplement
He highlighted a local authority cap of $33,600 for a couple with three children and said couples can be thrown off the housing list when they go over the cap after receiving family income supplement. He said this policy ‘‘doesn't make sense’’ and must be reviewed because affected families are seriously struggling to pay rent.
Rent increases cited in Killarney
He cited sharp rent increases in Killarney, saying rents have ‘‘gone up $900,000, and in cases $1,200, and I've had cases of $1,500’’, and warned people do not have that kind of money. He added that even households on incomes around $33,600 or $40,000 will not be able to get a mortgage for a roof over their heads.
Landlords and taxation
He addressed the minister to note that many landlords are responsible but said the state takes in many instances 50% of the rent in tax. He suggested that if something could be done regarding that tax burden, it might help struggling tenants.
Conclusion and appeal
He reiterated that the very large majority of tenants pay their way and that the State must ensure no evictions take place for those tenants. He urged the Dáil and minister to examine the housing list cap and other measures to protect vulnerable families.
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Thank you very much, Cloghola. I'm glad to get the opportunity and I wish to thank the Labour Party for bringing this very important motion here before us this evening. We all hate the word eviction and every person and every human being is entitled to have a roof over their head and that's what we should be striving for in this Dáil to ensure that everyone will finish up and have a house. Of course, landlords for their part, 99% of them are good operators and treat their tenants properly. Then of course there are rogue landlords who don't subscribe to that and we have to remember here, Minister, that the state takes in many instances 50% of the rent that the landlord gets goes in tax and in If there could be something done in that regard, it might help a lot of people. I'll just give you an example of people that are in serious trouble. In our local authority, the cap to remain on the housing list for a couple and three children is $33,600. I know couples that are even on family income supplement. When they go on the family income supplement, that means they can survive on the income that they're getting. They're actually thrown off the housing list when they go over the cap. The cap $33,600 for the family unit that I gave. They're thrown off the housing list and they're on family income supplement. That just doesn't make sense. I've raised several times before and indeed other members have as well. That must be looked at because these people are seriously struggling to pay the rent. And in Killarney, it's gone up. And in Killarney, it's gone up $900,000, and in cases $1,200, and I've had cases of $1,500. And people don't have that kind of money and they can't, they won't get a loan with $33,600 anywhere near that. Even $40,000, they won't get a mortgage for a roof over their heads. And we must do something about that. Many, some tenants, most tenants pay their way. But there are other tenants then who won't, regardless of what income they're on, pay any penny. And those people can't be supported. But most tenants, the very large majority do pay their way. And we must ensure that no evictions take place on those kind of people. Thank you. Thank you.
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