Government “gaslighting” people over housing crisis, says Ó Broin

Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin has said that the government parties are “gaslighting the public” over the housing crisis and deferring blame.

The Dublin Mid-West TD said that Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Housing James Browne are ‘”gaslighting the public in a desperate attempt to blame others for housing failures’.

The Sinn Féin housing spokesperson said that government must “accept responsibility” for the housing crisis and introduce a “radical reset” of housing policy to tackle the deepening housing and homelessness crisis.

Ó Broin noted, “despite being in Government for fifteen years, Simon Harris is blaming local authorities for the housing crisis. ”

“Meanwhile Minister for Housing James Browne is saying that homeless will continue to ‘be a challenge for the next couple of years’.

He said, “both ministers are gaslighting the public in a desperate attempt to blame others for housing failures.  The Tánaiste is once again seeking to displace blame onto others while the Minister for Housing is repeating the mantra that they are on track to meet demand.  Neither of these things are true.”

“Responsibility for the ever-deepening housing and homelessness crisis lies squarely with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and their decade long failing housing policies.  They are responsible for the chronic undersupply of social, affordable and private for purchase homes.  In turn, they are responsible for rising house prices, rents, homelessness and emigration.”

Ó Broin said, “it doesn’t have to be this way. ”

“Housing can be fixed – but only with a radical reset of housing policy as proposed by Sinn Féin in our alternative housing plan ‘A Home of Your Own’ and the government’s own Housing Commission report.  We need a dramatic increase in the delivery of social and affordable homes, greater activation of private sector supply for home buyers, tougher action on vacancy and dereliction, and an emergency plan to prevent homelessness and get people our of emergency accommodation more quickly.

“The Tánaiste and Minister for Housing would be better placed to get their own house in order instead of blaming others and gaslighting the public,” he said.