Laura Harmon (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It sends a shiver down the spine of people who are saving for a mortgage when they hear of the constant increase in home prices in this country. People are saving money to stand still, while there is no corresponding increase in savings interest in banks. Rents are rising, the cost of living and food has increased and prices are going up and up. The housing crisis is a ticking time bomb. We cannot afford to have a whole generation of pensioners renting in the future. We already have poverty in old age for many. We have the highest levels of outward emigration since 2015. Of my four younger sisters, three have emigrated. We are losing teachers, gardaí, doctors, nurses and key workers, and the housing crisis is contributing to this. We have record levels of homelessness and vacancy and dereliction is rife. We need stronger penalties to tackle those who are leaving properties vacant.

Housing targets are not being met, despite what was said before the election. We need the State to step up to the mark urgently and scale up the ambition when it comes to delivering housing. We need a pandemic-style emergency response to the housing crisis. I do not have any faith in the Government when it comes to housing. I genuinely wish I did, but it was the last straw when I saw the Taoiseach laughing along with Trump in the White House recently regarding the housing crisis in Ireland. It showed utter contempt for people living in this country. I hope the Minister can prove me wrong. I sincerely hope he will get a handle on this brief and will make a huge impact in his role. I wish him well in his role.