Taoiseach “out of touch on housing” says Donnelly

Sinn Féin councillor Angela Donnelly has said that the government is failing to deliver social housing after new figures showed that 22,738 people in Fingal are on social housing lists or in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

Donnelly added that the only way to start fixing Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s mismanagement of the housing crisis is with a change of government, a Sinn Féin Minister for Housing and Sinn Féin’s alternative housing plan. 

Donnelly pointed to figures which show that 22,738 people in Fingal are on housing lists or in receipt of HAP.

“This is further evidence of the government’s inability to fix the housing crisis and their failure to deliver social housing for those who need it,” she said.

“The report, published by the Parliamentary Budget Office, estimates that the number of social homes across the state must be increased 56 per cent just to meet the current deficit, yet only last month Taoiseach Simon Harris inexplicably claimed that a sufficient volume of social housing was being delivered.”

“These figures rubbish the Taoiseach’s claim, and show just how out of touch he and his government are when it comes to their failures to address the housing crisis.”

“But none of this will come as a surprise to those struggling in Fingal to put a secure and affordable roof over their heads. Fine Gael has been in government for 13 years, Fianna Fáil have been propping them up for the last eight years. “

She cited recent reports by the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland, the Central Statistics Office and Savills which all highlighted that the government’s housing plan is sub-par.

“The three reports highlight sky high house prices, chronic undersupply and the growing affordability challenge for working people looking to rent or buy a home; during all of that time, house prices, rents and homelessness have risen to historic highs. Meanwhile, the delivery of social and affordable homes has been unacceptably low,” she said.

“Sinn Féin has an alternative housing plan that will priortise the delivery of social and affordable housing to the level that is required. That is why we need a general election, a change of government and a Sinn Féin Minister for Housing.”