Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Social Democrats will support the motion even though our affordable housing plan, Homes Within Reach, has a number of key differences from what Sinn Féin is putting forward.

Every day I campaign in my constituency, I meet people who are directly affected by the housing crisis, people who have been homeless and are afraid of becoming homeless again, renters afraid of becoming homeless and young people and not so young people - adults in their late 20s and 30s - who are still living at home with their parents. At the homes I call into where housing is not an issue, issues caused by the lack of affordable housing tend to come up. That could be lack of disability services or parents waiting years to get their children assessed or to get the supports they need. Often the key reason they are not getting access to the services they need is the deficit in key workers in a number of areas. I am seeing it in schools as well. The lack of affordable housing options is really causing a problem there.

It was notable in the Minister's ten-minute contribution that approximately 90 seconds was spent on the Government's record on housing and the rest of the time was spent attacking the main Opposition party.

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