Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have been in the grip of a housing crisis for several years. Prices have skyrocketed and they continue to rise. Rents have spiralled out of control and show no sign of reducing. Workers and families are struggling to secure affordable accommodation.

On Tuesday, a memo was brought to the Cabinet, which the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, attended, setting out that a new pension auto-enrolment scheme will be needed so that future pensioners can afford to pay rent as they are going to continue to be locked out of home ownership. This is an admission that the Government's Housing for All strategy is failing. Yesterday, we heard from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that 35,000 additional homes will be required to meet provision for the Ukrainian refugees. Another Minister has revealed plans to build a tent settlement in County Meath to provide accommodation. How is all of this to be delivered? Does the Government propose to revamp its current plan in light of the urgent need for additional accommodation? How will it deliver on any future plan given all of its existing plans are dramatically failing?

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