Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Pre-election claims to the effect that the Government would deliver 40,000 homes last year now hang like an albatross around the neck of its credibility. The housing crisis permeates virtually every corner of Irish society. Schools are unable to hire teachers, gardaí are unable to secure accommodation in the communities in which they serve and students have been abandoned, while renters and aspiring homeowners have been cast utterly adrift. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste speak of these claims as genuine belief and split hairs as to whether ignorance is an excuse for mistruth. Neither of these will serve as a relief to the people in counties such as Cavan and Monaghan who are struggling with a housing crisis not of their own making. The previous Government failed to set even an affordable housing target. I assure the Minister for housing that among the people living in Cavan and Monaghan, the need is greatly felt.

Yesterday, the Taoiseach revealed his bold plan to end rent pressure zones. Despite his attempts to row back on these comments, it is clear vulture funds understood. Their share prices soared to an eight-month high. The fact is the implementation by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of rent pressure zones was lacklustre. Residential Tenancies Board data show that rents for new and existing renters are significantly higher than the 2% cap where the zones obtain. The response, rather than yet another sop to vultures and developers, should be even greater protections from rent hikes, including a three-year ban on rent increases. This programme for Government will not deliver that. We know that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are incapable of addressing the housing crisis. The Government must realise that the solution is not more of the same, such as crisis talks with developers leading to incentives for vulture funds, but rather the implementation of Sinn Féin's housing plan, bringing home ownership back into the reach of working people and delivering homes that are secure, adequate and affordable.

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