Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has accused the government of failing an entire generation of young people on housing.

The comments were made on foot of a Prime Time exposé of the growing number of young adults forced to live at home with their parents into their 30s because of rip off house prices and rents.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Last night’s Prime Time special exposed the human reality of an entire generation locked out of affordable housing by years of bad government policy. Over half a million adults are still living at home and the situation is getting worse.

“In 2019, almost 45% of 18 to 34-year-olds lived with their parents. By 2022, the numbers soared to 68%. We now have the sixth highest level of adults living with parents in the EU.

“Rents are so high it makes it impossible to save for a deposit. But for many young people forced to move back in with their parents, it could take a decade to save enough to secure a mortgage to buy a standard starter home.

“This is the direct result of years of bad government housing policy. The current government like its predecessor is not delivering a sufficient volume of affordable homes at prices that working singles and couples can actually afford.

“The government housing plan targets for affordable homes are too low, they are not meeting these targets and in many cases the rents or house prices of those homes that are delivered are unaffordable for the vast majority.

“Sinn Féin has a plan to deliver the thousands of genuinely affordable homes that working people need. We need to make sure that 2024 is the year we end the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing crisis. Only a change of government, housing Minister and housing plan will give the locked out general a chance to have an affordable home of their own.”