Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has said Sinn Féin has the plan to make housing affordable, bring homeownership back into the reach of working people and restore hope for a generation.

Ms McDonald stated that it is time for a Sinn Féin Minister for Housing because only a Sinn Féin led government will fix housing.

Speaking at an event to launch the party’s key affordable and social housing proposals, the Sinn Féin Leader said:

“Making housing affordable and bringing homeownership back into the reach of working people will be the priority for a Sinn Fein led government. 

“We have the game changing housing plan, the plan that sets the course to end the housing crisis, the plan to restore hope for a generation. 

“Our plan starts from a core belief – Everyone should have a home. 

“A home that you can afford, a home that provides you with a real sense of belonging and stability, a home that allows you to build a life of success and happiness.

“This plan is the plan to deliver the biggest housing programme in history and we have the political will and the determination to get the job done.

“In the six years to 2030, we will deliver 370,000 new homes, private and public affordable homes to buy and rent, as well as enabling people to build homes in their own communities.

“We’ll deliver real support for first-time buyers, who will be far better off under a Sinn Féin led government. Affordability will be our watchword. We will, over time, phase out schemes that are driving up house prices, while we massively increase the supply of homes. 

“The reality is that these schemes are not the answer but a symptom of the problem. We will focus on ratcheting up genuinely affordable supply across society so that you can buy a home of your own. We will also abolish stamp duty for every first time buyer on homes up to €450,000. 

“We will also ensure that renters get a fair deal and a secure future – by cutting rents and banning rent increases for three years.”

Ms McDonald slammed the performance of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on housing, describing it as a record of failure and broken promises.

She said:

“Fine Gael has been in government for fourteen years, joined by Fianna Fáil for the last eight years. Far from making things better, they’ve only made things worse. 

“They’ve spent more than a decade making promises and breaking them. They will make all the same promises again during this election campaign, but the facts speak for themselves – neither Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil can be trusted on housing. 

“It’s time for a Sinn Féin Housing Housing Minister because only a Sinn Féin led government will fix housing.”