New Mayor of Dublin vows to address housing crisis  

THE new Lord Mayor of Dublin said addressing the housing crisis will be the top priority during his term of office.

Sinn Féin Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha was elected the capital’s first citizen at the annual meeting of Dublin City Council.

“I know I speak for the members of this city council and the vast majority of our citizens when I say that there absolutely has to be a step-change in Government housing policy,” said Cllr Mac Donncha in his acceptance speech. 

“This city council must be given the resources and the support – financial, legal, logistical – to build homes, to purchase homes, to refurbish and extend homes – to meet the housing needs of the people. 

“I commend the efforts of city council officials and staff who are doing their best within the confines of central government policy and allocated resources. But much, much more is needed.

“I take this opportunity to call on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and his Cabinet colleagues to release the funding needed for Dublin City Council and the other Dublin local authorities to develop council housing in sufficient quantity.”

The new mayor has been a member of Dublin City Council since 2011 when he was first co-opted as a Sinn Féin member.

He was elected to represent the Beaumont –Donaghmede Ward of the North Central Electoral Area of the city in the 2014 local government elections. 

He is deputy leader of the Sinn Féin group on the city council and has served as Cathaoirleach of Dublin City Council Finance SPC (Special Policy Committee) and of the Commemorative Naming Committee.

Cllr Mac Donncha is also a board member on the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, the Board of the Hugh Lane Gallery and of the National Maternity Hospital.