Fitzpatrick outlines reasons for voting against the government

FOUR of the five TD’s in Louth voted against the government in last week’s motion from Sinn Fein calling for the eviction ban, which expired last Friday (on a phased basis) to be extended until January 2024.

Deputies Imelda Munster and Ruairí O’Murchú from Sinn Fein, Ged Nash from Labour and Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick voted for the Sinn Fein motion while only Fergus O’Dowd from Fine Gael voted against it.

Speaking in the Dáil former Fine Gael TD outlined his reasons for voting against the government.

“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important issue. I will support the amendment Bill today to defer the termination dates of certain tenancies to 31 January 2024, in order to mitigate the risk of homelessness.

“I wish to start off with some figures. There was a 47% increase in the number of notices to quit in the private rental sector between quarter 1 and quarter 2 of 2022. Some 7,539 eviction notices were issued from January to September 2022. Last Friday, there was no emergency accommodation in Louth - no hotel rooms, no bed and breakfast accommodation, nothing. A total of 172 people presented as homeless to Louth County Council last month, even before the eviction ban is due to be lifted. Last Friday, five properties were listed on daft.ie to rent in Louth. At a minimum, 96 families in Louth face eviction in four days’ time.

“These figures are not just figures. They are families, children, people from all walks of life.

“Shelter is a fundamental right. In the last week, the Government has rhymed off its achievements regarding housing and the supply of housing and quoted building numbers, but on the ground, rental accommodation is not accessible and homeless accommodation is at breaking point.

“One young man from my constituency contacted me because he is in fear of imminent eviction. He was given notice to va- cate before the ban came in and is not eligible for the proposed tenant in situ scheme. After coming through foster care, he is currently in a HAP property and has access to two young siblings. This young man is an apprentice electrician earning €400 a week. Although he has been searching, he cannot locate an alternative property, unless he pays nearly €2,000. Louth County Council has no accommodation for him. His only alternative is to go to the Simon Community.

“The extension of the legislation is absolutely necessary due to the ongoing acute supply constraints in the residential rental sector and the increasing number of people presenting as homeless. In October, on Second Stage of this Bill, I said that while this emergency Bill provides shortterm assistance, the long-term answers to the housing and accommodation challenges remain. I said that the homelessness figures will continue to rise after the eviction ban has concluded unless the core problem of the lack of affordable homes is addressed. In fact, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage confirmed the “first refusal” option will not be in place by 1 April, as it requires legislative change. There is no clear timeline for its introduction,” stated Fitzpatrick.

“As far as I know the production crew for the movie used a boat owned by a local fisherman Dermot Marks for one of the scenes.”

He added: “They filmed something in Annagassan the day before. We are all looking forward to seeing a bit of Louth on the big screen.”