Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government promised to increase the stock of social housing, but this morning, like every morning, we heard the real human stories of the families who were left to languish on the housing waiting list by this Government and its predecessor. Mothers are struggling to feed their children and pay their bills because they are forced to live in poor-quality and overpriced rental accommodation. The number of people on local authority housing lists continues to rise, with the figure now touching 112,000 families throughout this State. Meanwhile, 3,500 council houses lie idle. In my own city of Cork, almost 8,000 families are on the housing waiting list even though 500 houses lie idle. The number of people depending on rent supplement continues to rise and the cuts to the supplement are forcing increasing numbers into financial hardship and, in some cases, homelessness. Homeless charities report a significant increase in the number of people using their services. The Tánaiste knows that the reason for this is very simple. His Government, like the Fianna Fáil Government that preceded it, is slashing the budget for social housing.

The Tánaiste has no plans to address the housing crisis. Since taking office, the Government has cut funding for social housing by more than half. That is why waiting lists continue to grow. When will the Tánaiste honour the commitment in the programme for Government to start investing in social housing and to address the housing crisis?

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