Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has today said that only a radical change of direction can address the deepening housing crisis.
The Dublin Mid West TD added that this can only happen with a general election and a change of Government.
Deputy Ó Broin’s comments were made as Sinn Féin published their detailed alternative budget document and the text of a Private Members Motion on the housing budget that will be debated in the Dáil this evening.
Teachta Ó Broin said:
“Fine Gael have been in Government for 12 years, and Fianna Fáil have been propping them up for seven. During all of that time, the housing crisis has gone from bad to worse.
“Both parties have been in a formal coalition for three and a half years. During that time, house prices have increased by 28%, costing the average buyer €70,000 more. New rents have gone up 25%, costing almost €4000 more per year.
“Adult, child and pensioner homelessness are all at record highs, with no sign of the upward trend changing any time soon.
“Meanwhile, year after year, the Government is failing to deliver on their already inadequate social and affordable housing targets.
“Today, Sinn Féin is launching, as we do every year, our detailed alternative budget on housing. This year it also includes a section on the Government’s failure to date, and why Budget 2024 was a missed opportunity to tackle the ever-deepening housing and homelessness crises.
“The focus of our alternative budget is delivering affordable homes. We made provision for an additional €1.4bn of Government capital expenditure and €300m Approved Housing Body borrowing to deliver 21,000 social, affordable-rental and affordable-purchase homes next year.
“Our document also sets out how we believe a Sinn Féin Government would deliver this ambitious target in a single year, by increasing investment, cutting red tape, using more vacant and derelict homes and new building technologies, and redirecting building workers to where they are needed most, the delivery of affordable homes.
“We have also set out an emergency response to the escalating homelessness crisis with a specific measure to end homelessness for the over-55s in a single year and dramatically reduce children homelessness through the delivery of 1000 additional social homes using emergency planning and procurement powers and new building technologies. We would also double the delivery of housing first tenancies for single people in emergency accommodation to 500.
“Once again Sinn Féin’s alternative budget stands up for renters outlining what a real renter’s tax relief looks like alongside a three-year ban on rent increases.
“Our alternative budget also sets out how to improve the quality of our existing housing stock, how to address the housing needs of Travellers and people with disabilities, how to rise to the challenge of climate change, how to deliver 100% redress to all those impacted by building defects and defective block, and how to properly resource our planning system.
“Tonight, Sinn Féin is using our Private Members time to ensure that there is a real debate between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s status quo housing budget and what a budget for change in housing, offered by Sinn Féin looks like.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have had all the time they needed to tackle the housing crisis. They have failed. It is time for a change of Government and a change of housing plan so that finally we can start to undo the damage of decades of bad Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policy.”
Delivering Affordable Homes, Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget for Housing 2024, can be read here
Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion can be read here
