‘Engagement with key stakeholders is welcome but must be followed up with meaningful action,’ says O’Callaghan

A housing conference taking place today paints ‘a picture of a Government desperately scrambling for ideas to tackle the crisis,’ according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan.

“While it is welcome to see the Taoiseach and Minister engaging with key stakeholders in the construction and academic sectors,” Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said.

“As well as those providing homelessness services, meetings of this nature should have been held a long time ago and on a regular basis.

“Today’s conference will have no immediate impact on the lives of young adults still living in their childhood bedrooms due to spiralling property prices and exorbitant rents.

“This housing summit takes place against the backdrop of record-breaking homelessness figures.

“There are now 11,542 people living in homeless emergency accommodation – 3,494 of them children.

“It is clear to most observers that the Government’s Housing for All plan is not working.

“Of the 9,000 new build social homes promised for 2022, only 2,706 had been delivered by the end of September.

“The Government isn’t even spending its own capital allocation for housing. Revised estimates published in November showed that €337 million ringfenced for new local authority homes in 2022 was reallocated elsewhere.

“In addition, the Minister has yet to explain why a further €231 million from the housing budget was left unspent last year.

“We are in the middle of an unprecedented housing crisis and the Government is failing miserably to meet its own targets.

“Today’s conference cannot just be about optics. It should serve as a starting point for a new housing plan that is achievable and fit for purpose.”