Government failing to take housing crisis seriously, says Folan

Local election candidate Shane Folan has said that the government has failed to tackle the housing crisis and has no interest in bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use.

Folan, who is running for the party in Donaghmede, said he constantly hears about the housing crisis on the campaign trail and wants to rectify it.

“There are families trapped in insecure tenancies, adults stuck living in their childhood bedrooms, and people struggling to find a place to call home. It is unacceptable that in the middle of a housing crisis, the Northside has so many vacant and derelict buildings.”

“Often in housing estates around the Donahgmede area, these houses could be a start for a young family instead of lying there empty being no use to anyone.”

He said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have “utterly failed to address the issue.”

“They have allowed rents and house prices and house rents to skyrocket while homelessness figures continue to rise,” he said.

“This government’s failure on housing is a stark reminder that we need change now. Their policies are clearly not working, and it is time for a new approach.”

“Instead of decisive action, the Government response to the disaster was the one-off Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. We now know there were less than 100 drawdowns in 2023 of the grant. This is like throwing deck chairs off the Titanic, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are focused on short-termism – not effective action.

“Labour has a clear vision to bring these buildings back into use. If elected, I will prioritise vacant and derelict properties, pursuing policies which ensure they are transformed into homes. Labour will fight tirelessly to bring empty homes back into use, and we will not stop until every family has a secure place to live. This is about more than just bricks and mortar; it’s about giving people the stability and security they deserve.”

“The time for half-measures is over,” he said.