Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I must say that when the Minister got up to speak earlier, I thought I was in some kind of alternate reality or universe, whereby we, in Sinn Féin have been in government for the past years, when he said that the thing we need to do is to build homes. That is something that we have long been calling for. However, it has been the Minister and his party who have been in government and have overseen this housing crisis and the increase in homelessness and the absolute desperation of people trying to pay rents and find places to live. The Minister mentioned HAP.

Does the Minister know how many properties were available in Galway city under the housing assistance payment, HAP, limits in October of this year? It was one. That is what the Government is saying to people. That is the reality for people in Galway city. That is the reality for people across the State. This is because of the Government's policies, it is not because of Sinn Féin policies. It would be wise for the Minister to actually listen to our policies and maybe enact some of them to try to help those who are struggling. I absolutely believe our policies will be of benefit to ordinary people who are struggling to pay the rents, who are struggling in overcrowded conditions because they cannot pay their rent, and who are struggling living at home with their parents. The Minister might say he hears all of this in his own clinics, and I am sure he hears about these realities in his own clinics because this is the reality for so many people. The Minister would do well to listen to what these people have to say and ensure his Government enacts policies to help these people. They simply cannot continue the way they are going.

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