Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

The Central Bank housing figures, out today, show with terrifying clarity the housing disaster that the Government’s policies have created. Not only did the Government mislead the public in the election by stating 40,000 homes would be built last year but it will not reach anywhere near 40,000 homes this year or next year. It is also pulling the plug on social housing projects due to commence on site in the coming weeks. These figures show that the biggest blockage to solving the housing crisis is this Government’s policies. The Government is delusional in thinking that allowing rents to rise even higher will solve this crisis. It is clearly disconnected from the reality of the generational anxiety, despair and social division that his policies are causing. It is a shame that it is making renters, students and workers pay for its policy failures. Why will the Government not implement our homes for Ireland State savings proposal, which could leverage the €160 billion held in Irish accounts to build thousands of affordable homes, the type of supply our young people need and want? Why will it not make the equivalent of a Covid-period response to this housing crisis, which is now a complete and utter social catastrophe?

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