Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that Fianna Fáil’s latest reckless housing proposals will turbocharge house prices and rents.

The Dublin Mid-West TD added that the result will be ever-rising house prices and rents, leading to more and more people being locked out of affordable housing.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Micheál Martin has outlined some of the proposals that will be contained in the Fianna Fáil housing manifesto. These proposals are reckless and will turbocharge house prices and rents. The result will be ever-rising house prices and rents, leading to more and more people being locked out of affordable housing.

“Micheál Martin’s proposal to increase the so-called Help to Buy Scheme and expand it to second hand properties is Celtic Tiger-era Fianna Fáil at their very worst.

“At a time when house prices, including second hand homes, are experiencing double-digit house price inflation, these policies will drive prices up even further. This will lock even more people out of home ownership.

“Extending the controversial Shared Equity Scheme will not only add to house prices but saddle working people with increasing levels of high risk debt.

“Increasing the rent tax credit without banning rent increases, as Sinn Féin proposed, will mean the money will go straight into the landlord’s pocket. Indeed, it will likely fuel even higher rents.

“Significantly, Micheál Martin had nothing to say about dramatically increasing and accelerating the delivery of social, affordable cost rental and genuinely affordable purchase homes.

“Sinn Féin has set out, in our alternative housing plan, A Home Of Your Own, how we would double the delivery of social homes to slash waiting lists and end long term homelessness as well as driving a tenfold increase in affordable homes to purchase at prices from €250,000 and rents at or below €1000 per month.

“We have also set out how we would make private renting more secure and affordable while working with private residential developers to ensure they build more good quality homes at moderated prices for private purchasers including first time buyers.

“Only a Sinn Féin government with Sinn Féin’s housing plan can bring affordable home ownership back into reach of working people, while reducing council waiting lists and ending homelessness.

“On the basis of what Micheál Martin has outlined today, another five years of Fianna Fáil in charge of housing will actually make things much much worse, with higher rents, higher house prices, rising homelessness and under delivery of social and affordable homes.”