Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has called on the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Broin to publish his revised housing targets.

The Dublin Mid-West was responding to an apparent U-turn by the Minister who is saying that his earlier promise to publish the revised targets by the end of October may now not happen.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Darragh O’Brien has repeatedly stated that he would publish his revised housing targets, including targets for social and affordable housing, before the end of October.

“However, today in what looks like a massive U-turn, the Minister has said the targets may now not be published before the election.

“This is hard to understand given the fact that the data on which the new targets should be set was published by both the ESRI and Housing Commission months ago.

“Sinn Féin and the Housing Commission have called for an average of 60,000 new-build homes a year for the next five years.

“Sinn Féin has also supported the Housing Commissions recommendation to more than double the delivery of social and affordable homes to at least 25,000 homes a year.

“While government has consistently played catch up with Sinn Féin, industry and independent commentators on the issue of targets, the Minister for Housing is now indicating that people will have to wait until after the election to see the revised targets.

“What is the Minister hiding? What does he not want the voters to see? Is it that he knows he can’t significantly increase the targets for social and affordable homes and now wants to conceal that fact from the electorate.

“Minister O’Brien must publish his promised revised housing targets this month. He must set out what Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would deliver over the next five years, in terms of social, affordable and private homes.

“Sinn Féin has done this in our alternative housing plan, A Home Of Your Own. It is now time for the government and Minister O’Brien to follow suit.”