Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Broin for his momentous work on forming Sinn Féin's housing policy and bringing the motion to the Dáil. I have to say the Government's response to the breaking news this morning on part of the Housing Commission's report is bewildering. All Opposition parties have been saying for years that there is a national emergency housing crisis in this country. Sinn Féin has called for a national emergency to be declared on the status of Ireland's housing demand and for the right to housing to be enshrined in the Constitution yet the Government has always blocked, barracked and berated the Opposition for tabling such motions. No matter what the Government says, the simple facts are that any young couple, single parent or single person living in our country today on the minimum wage or the average industrial wage cannot rent or buy a home at current housing market prices. In fact, according to the Ombudsman for Children more than 30,000 children live in insecurity, whether through homelessness, hidden homelessness or in other State institutions.

Parents are worried sick they are unable to provide security for their own future well-being and, what is worse, for their children who are growing up in a box room in their grandparent's home or in overcrowded and overpriced rental accommodation. Families are struggling to pay exorbitant rents, very often in substandard accommodation. The latest Daft.ie report shows rents in my constituency of Wexford have risen by 7.5% year on year, to an average of €1,371, with an average home costing €350,000. How in anyone's world can someone afford to rear a family and save for a deposit when they pay more than one third of their hard-earned cash to landlords?

It is unbelievable to hear the statements from the Government that a step change is needed after 13 years. They have the audacity to quote figures from 2011 to state how much better they are now. It is 13 years later and the targets are still very low. The commission's report estimates the housing deficit ranges from 212,000 to 256,000 homes on the 2022 census figures. The problem is that it has taken 13 years for the Government to realise that a step change is needed to provide homes and a roof over citizens' heads. The only problem is the suggested step change is a mere baby step in what has become a race to save the hopes of an entire generation to ever own or rent a family home. The only way a real step change will occur is through a change in government in the local and general elections.

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