Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is campaigning in Limerick, Kerry, Cork City and Cork East today.

Speaking in Garryowen in Limerick City this morning, she said: “Sinn Féin in government will invest €1bn in a new Community Investment Fund to improve the lives of working-class communities left behind by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Many of these communities bore the brunt of austerity cuts at a time when this tax should have been collected, and they continue to live with the impact today.”

Ms McDonald also responded to Micheál Martin’s comments that Fianna Fáil had made a difference in housing and wanted the housing portfolio for another five years: “At a time of economic growth Fianna Fáil has managed to worsen the housing crisis – home ownership has collapsed among the under 40s, rents are out of control and child homelessness is at crisis levels.

“Another five years of Fianna Fáil in charge of housing would be disastrous for this country. Change is possible. Sinn Féin is asking people to give us the chance and we will deliver homes at scale, bring home ownership back into reach for working people, cut rents and ban increases for three years and we will end child homelessness.”

The Sinn Féin leader said:

“Sinn Féin will put €1bn of the Apple Tax money in a new Community Investment Fund to support working class communities that have been left behind by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and that bore the brunt of austerity cuts at a time when this tax should have been collected.

“This is about giving the same opportunities to build a better future to every community.

“This will be a targeted capital investment fund for sports facilities, play facilities, community facilities, youth facilities, arts facilities and public spaces to transform communities that bore the brunt of austerity. Here in Garryowen it means delivering a new community centre at the heart of the community.

“Communities like Garryowen live with the barriers created by austerity. They live with intergenerational disadvantage, poverty and young people denied access to opportunities.

“It’s time to repair that damage, to invest ambitiously in community development and build a better future for all.

“Such an investment will be a key part of an overall plan to tackle poverty and disadvantage and ensure equal opportunities for all.

“Community is everything. It’s the beating heart of life in Ireland and Sinn Féin is absolutely committed to backing communities held back by neglect and cuts, ensuring they can reach their full potential.”