Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

The housing crisis that the country is currently in the grips of is affecting entire communities, none more so than the communities I represent in east Cork. What was once known as a great region with welcoming towns, strong community spirit and national beauty is now grappling with the growing problem of the lack of social and affordable houses. As we speak, there are currently more than 300 empty council houses in County Cork, of which 100 have been vacant for more than two years. While these homes remain idle, the rate of homelessness in Cork has reached an appalling level. In the past three years, the number of children spending more than 12 months in emergency accommodation has jumped by 171%. In April, a shocking 650 adults were in emergency accommodation across Cork. In that same month, Cork City Council shut down its tenant in situ scheme due to insufficient funding. We have seen the pressure intensify in places like Midleton, Youghal, Cobh, Carrigtohill, Fermoy, Mitchelstown and others. The demand for housing is so high but supply is not keeping up with it. Too few social and affordable housing projects are being built. The planning process is so slow, and short-term rentals sit vacant while families go without roofs over their head.

We need this Government to treat housing like the emergency that it is. Housing is not a commodity; it is a human right. The Government's failures on housing have become normalised, which is shocking. Nobody expects anything from this do-nothing Government which constantly fails our communities. There are solutions to the housing crisis, however. We in Sinn Féin are calling for the immediate reinstatement of the tenant in situ scheme, the reinstatement of the no-fault eviction ban, a freeze on private rents, and the Government to provide adequate funding to Cork County Council to build enough council and affordable homes to tackle the housing crisis and end homelessness for good.

Other Deputies mentioned the event on 21 June at the National Monument in Cork city. I am calling on everyone to come out and show the Government that we have a housing emergency and to bring attention to other failings - the 10,000 people on boil-water notices, failing mental health services in east Cork and flooding issues. I am asking everybody to vote with their feet and show this Government that it is not providing what it should.

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