Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In its most recent sentiment survey, Fingal Chamber of Commerce states:

The slow delivery of infrastructure, specifically housing, presents a threat to Ireland's competitiveness and reputation resulting in a direct impact on recruiting and retaining employees and, worryingly the ability to attract additional FDI ...

Almost 43% of businesses in Fingal said the availability of housing and rental accommodation is a serious issue for them.

Shortage of housing to buy or rent are significant challenges for big companies in particular with some businesses in the region ... seeking to purchase houses for accommodation for their staff.

The seriousness of this issue is borne out in a new jobs report by Morgan McKinley Ireland Quarterly Employment Monitor. The report outlines that the accommodation crisis is fuelling a brain drain in some sectors as some sectors as young professional[s] are lured by better opportunities and the lower cost of living overseas.

Professionals in the accounting, construction and legal sectors in particular are suffering due to the lack of accommodation in Ireland with job offers regularly being turned down as a consequence.

We have stood on these benches and made logical arguments to the Minister, we have made emotional arguments to him and I am now making a business argument to him. It is very easy to see this in the constituency we both represent. He can see the impact of the housing crisis he has in part created and which he appears to have no interest in resolving, or ability to resolve. At a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Chambers Ireland said:

The greatest challenge facing small and medium enterprises this year is the lack of available talent, which is driven by affordable and appropriate housing being unavailable across most of the country. With a small number of exceptions, our chambers have housing as the main cause of their businesses’ challenges ...

The budget the Minister has approved will not make things better and will, indeed, make them worse. His housing strategy is not working. It is not working in the constituency we represent or anywhere else in this State. We have presented him with alternatives time and time again. We have shown him that his failed housing policy is not the only show in town - in fact it is not any show in town - and it is failing people and letting them down. However, he will not listen and will not change direction. The impact is being felt the length and breadth of this State. People are hurting and now business is hurting. Money is going to leave this State because people simply cannot find anywhere affordable to rent or buy and that is on the Minister.

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