Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tacaím leis an moladh ón Teachta Ó Broin. Is léir nach bhfuil na spriocanna atá ag an Roinn dóthanach go leor agus ní chuireann siad os ár gcomhair go leor tithe inacmhainne. Tá an ghéarchéim tithíochta ag éirí níos measa ar go slite, go mór mór le roinnt míonna anuas.

As previous speakers have noted, when we talk to young people, as I do in my constituency in Cork, their attitude is one of asking what they are supposed to do and what chance have they got. They are working, some of them in well-paid jobs, but it is just not possible to afford a home. They cannot afford to rent or buy and they definitely cannot afford to do both. Homeownership is absolutely out of reach and many of them do not qualify for social housing. More and more, their future seems uncertain and insecure. It seems impossible to plan for family, work or anything like that because they do not have any confidence in having a secure home. They feel their future is being taken away from them. That is the attitude I encounter in the people I talk to in my constituency.

In many respects, things are getting worse. House prices have increased by 30% since 2016 and rents by 44%. Cork city has the third highest rents in the State, averaging at more than €1,300 and rising. Many people would say that is not too bad, given some of the rents one sees in the city, of €1,400, €1,500 and much higher, for relatively modest homes. The Government has not shown adequate ambition to make housing affordable. It is failing ordinary workers and families in Cork and across the State. The targets it has set out are not anywhere near what is needed in terms of affordable housing. There is provision for 76 affordable homes a year in the city and 38 in the county. The county council covers a population of approximately 440,000. Are we expecting it to do the miracle of the loaves and fishes with 38 houses? It simply will not be anywhere near enough to meet the needs of the number of people being knocked off the housing list, not qualifying for it or not being able to get an affordable mortgage. It will go nowhere near far enough and those young people will continue to fear for their future.

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