Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)

According to information we in Aontú have received, 49% of people in emergency accommodation in the State have come from outside Ireland. That is a significant figure and there is no doubt it is putting pressure on the housing sector. Currently, 80,000 people net are coming to Ireland each year. If we include the population growth of the State, that is the equivalent of adding the population of Galway city to the country on an annual basis. Galway has a university, a university hospital, dozens of schools and tens of thousands of houses. The Government is simply not building that infrastructure on an annual basis.

I want to be clear that the lack of supply in housing is the Government's fault. It is not the responsibility of newcomers that supply is breaking down. I also want to be clear that we need to provide shelter for those fleeing war and violence. However, should not asylum seekers who are working here contribute to the cost of their accommodation? Is it fair that where two people in the same town are both working and earning the same, they do not both have to contribute to the cost of their accommodation?

See this speech in context