Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What really frustrates me is Government has heard the stories about what its housing policies mean for ordinary families across this State. It has heard of those living in emergency accommodation with no end in sight. It has heard of how humiliating, depressing and destabilising an experience this is. It has heard of the profound lifelong impact this has on children. It has heard of the young people who are well-educated, well-qualified and in good employment who are at this minute sending their CVs across the globe because they cannot afford a place to live here. It has heard of those forced to live in rented accommodation because Government systematically disengaged from building and purchasing local authority homes and it has heard of the outrage, shock, heartache and trauma its decision to lift the eviction ban has had on the families who are now forced to leave the place they live with no idea about where to go. We know the Government has heard these stories. That the Minister of State, even after those stories, has the gall to come here tonight and describe the outcome as "positive" is an absolute scandal.

The housing crisis was once an urban experience. Homelessness was once a Dublin phenomenon. That did not make it right, but thanks to the Government it now affects families in every corner of the State. That happened because of the Government's actions and it is getting worse because of its failures.

There has been a failure of capital underspending on housing to the tune of €1 billion between 2020 and 2023. There was a failure to protect vulnerable renters when the Government ended the eviction ban. Much has already been made of the fact that of the 4,100 affordable homes target for last year, the Minister of State's Government delivered just 1,000. The Government did hit one target in Monaghan, because its target for affordable homes in my county was precisely zero. That was exactly what was delivered, because according to the Government's rationale housing in Monaghan is not unaffordable enough just yet. It is these failures, and especially the Government's failure to accept it is failing, that is convincing more and more people beyond any doubt that what is needed now is not more spin and more Government policy but a change of Government. The sooner that happens the better for the thousands of families suffering as a result of the Government's failures.

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