Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has said that the government is plunging older people into insecurity and the State into a demographic crisis.

The Donegal TD’s comments come after a report by the Parliamentary Budget Office found that over 115,000 households had an ongoing housing need last year.

The report found that a growing number of older people are languishing on social housing waiting lists or rely on Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to keep a roof over their head.

Deputy Doherty said that the only way to reverse Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s housing crisis and ensure secure and affordable accommodation for older people is through a change of government and Sinn Féin’s housing plan.

Teachta Doherty said:

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s housing crisis is plunging more older people into insecure accommodation.

“This week’s report by the Parliamentary Budget Office shows the extent of the housing crisis, created and deepened by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and the devastating impact it is having on older people.

“The report found a growing number of people over the age of 50 who are locked out of home ownership and are either stuck on social housing waiting lists or reliant on HAP to afford their rents in an insecure rental market.

“There are more than 31,000 of these households, with nearly half of them single and probably living alone.

“These are older people who are languishing on social housing waiting lists or rely on HAP to keep a roof over their head.

“As the Parliamentary Budget Office warned, this is of huge concern.

“Older people are less able to secure a mortgage and own their own home and risk serious hardship as their income falls and their ability to afford rip-off rents plummets.

“In short, this government is plunging older people into insecurity and is steering us towards a demographic crisis.

“Unable to afford a home or secure social housing, so many of them face a future of hardship, reliant on their pensions to pay for unaffordable rents or unable to find accommodation at all.

“This government and its housing crisis is not only robbing the hopes of our young people but pushing older people into a future of hardship and insecurity.

“These findings show how out of touch this government and the Taoiseach Simon Harris are.

“Only last month he claimed that enough social homes were being delivered – these findings show this claim for what it is; nonsense.

“Under this government, rents and house prices continue to spiral.

“Home ownership continues to fall and the housing crisis deepens.

“But change is possible.

“Sinn Féin has an alternative housing plan that will deliver the social and affordable housing needed to provide secure and affordable accommodation that this government is denying older people.

“That is why we need a general election, a change of government and a Sinn Féin Minister for Housing.”