Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Coverage today by RTÉ of leaked details of the report of the Housing Commission laid bare the absolute disaster that is this Government's housing policy and the Minister himself. The report was compiled by leading experts and practitioners in the State and in it they are clearing saying the plan has failed. Calling for a "radical strategic reset" of housing policy is another way of saying that successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments have been disastrous for housing.

The facts on the ground speak for themselves. In County Louth, more than 5,000 people are on the housing waiting list. Some of these people have been on the housing waiting list for more than a decade. Let us see what 12 years of Fine Gael, eight years of Fianna Fáil alongside them and the Minister's time in his portfolio have given us. There has been a 50% increase in house prices, a 100% increase in rents and a 500% rise in child homelessness. When Fine Gael entered government, there were 3,000 people homeless. Now, in 2024, under the watch of the Minister, we have 4,000 children homeless and almost 14,000 people homeless overall. These numbers are shocking and a shameful legacy is being left behind.

This report is actually calling out this mismanagement. It is not possible for the Minister and the Government to hide behind bluster and nonsense anymore. This failure is as clear as day. This is an emergency and needs an emergency response. It proves that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot be trusted with housing. Since 2011 they have spent almost €10 billion of taxpayers' moneys on subsidies to landlords. This €10 billion is the equivalent of 40,000 permanent homes for families and it has gone straight into the pockets of your friends, the landlords. Another €3.24 billion has been spent on long-term leasing. Some of these leases will cost the State €600,000 each and it will not even own the properties in the end. This is taxpayers' money going down the Swanee. The Government is mismanaging public money, its housing plan is not working and it has no plan B. The only solution to the housing crisis is a change in government and the election of a Sinn Féin-led Government that will prioritise housing, understand that the State is central to the management of housing and that everyone has a right to a home. This is the only way things will change.

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