Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion and I thank Deputy O'Callaghan and the Social Democrats for bringing it forward. The shortage of, and absolute need for, affordable homes to buy is a major issue throughout the State and in my own county of Meath. The motion calls on the Government to dramatically increase the delivery of genuinely affordable purchase homes in line with the Ó Cualann model. In County Meath, we have a proven track record relative to other counties in delivering housing, but it is nowhere near enough to meet demand. The census results announced yesterday further confirm that to be the case. The Government's targets are way below what is needed, especially according to the Housing Commission. The current spatial strategy plans to significantly curtail development in the county during the lifetime of the current county development plan to 2027. We have development in Meath, which is welcome, but it is slowing. It is most certainly not affordable to buy or rent; the exact opposite is the case. I looked at what is available to buy in my own constituency of Meath East on daft.iethis morning. Very little was available by way of secondhand homes. With regard to new homes, there were two-bedroom homes in Dunshaughlin from €375,000; three-bedroom terraced houses on the same estate from €445,000; three-bedroom semi-detached houses on a new estate in Ashbourne from €475,000; and four-bedroom houses in Ratoath starting at €539,000. These are simply unaffordable. This is not an academic debate. It has a real and profound impact on people. Young people want to answer the question of where they will live. They ask when they will start a family; where their kids will go to school and whether they can live near mam and dad to support and care for them as they get older. The Minister of State's policy is failing horrendously. He needs to take on board the proposals from the Opposition.

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