Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste is clearly not listening. I just made the point that the Government missed its target for social and affordable housing last year. The Government missed its target not only last year but also the year before and the year before that. It is going to miss the target again this year. The consequences of that are very real because there is an affordability crisis. There are people now who cannot get rental accommodation. Rents have been at record levels. There has been a 12% increase in the past year. House prices are still going through the roof. Emergency accommodation is full with people who do not have a place to call home. There are 4,000 children in emergency accommodation. That is a consequence of the Government missing its drastically low targets in the first instance. Is it trying to present some illusion that it is hitting its social and affordable housing targets? It is not.

I ask again whether the Tánaiste is convinced that the Government will hit its targets for social and affordable housing this year, which would be a break from what has happened in the past three years. Alternatively, does he accept what we all see is patently evident, namely, that the Government is going to miss its target again this year and that the Minister is incapable of delivering what is under the control of the Government, which is building social, affordable and cost-rental homes? That is the reality. I urge the Tánaiste to wake up and look at is what is happening right under his nose.

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