Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, has today called on the government to urgently progress Sinn Féin’s plan for housing maintenance.
His comments come as a report by the ESRI shows that poor housing quality impacts significantly on the health and wellbeing of children and parents.
Teachta Gould said:
“In the Dáil this week, I showed the Minister for State the condition of homes in Cork city. The senior Minister wasn’t even there to see these.
“In fact, he did not come into the Dáil once for Sinn Féin’s motion. This is despite the fact that under his watch, people are living in mouldy, damp homes with holes in their roofs and windows that won’t close.
“Today’s ESRI report is a very difficult read. It lays clear what we already know. Not only does inadequate housing impact on people’s physical health, with increases in asthma and respiratory conditions well-documented, it also has profound consequences on mental health and on the ability to parent.
“The long-term consequences of leaving children to grow up in inadequate housing will be seen for generations to come.
“This week, Sinn Féin brought forward a motion that would see an increase in funding for reactive maintenance, a specific fund for flat and maisonette regeneration, and increased targets for retrofitting. Each of these measures would improve the quality of life of children and parents.
“They would make a real difference. Instead of debating them, the government allowed this motion to pass with no intention of making the plan a reality.
“People do not need a government that shrugs its shoulder when their belongings are destroyed by mould or when rain water comes into their homes because of unfixed holes.
“They need a government that listens and cares. They need a government with a plan. The first step to that government is electing strong Sinn Féin teams in City and County Halls.
“We need Councillors who will hold the local authority to account and who will bring the voice of those living in inadequate housing into Council chambers.”
