We are not building enough homes

Responding to the Housing for All progress report published yesterday, Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik said we are simply not building enough homes.

Deputy Bacik said:

“The Housing for All progress report fails to capture the reality of the issues in housing. Yes, Government are meeting some targets but all expert advice indicates that in order to accommodate our growing population, Ireland should be building 50,000 new homes per annum.

“Despite all the spin and bluster, home ownership is but a pipe dream for too many people in Ireland. What’s more, this Government continues to pursue housing policies that serve to benefit couples over single adult households. It’s an archaic approach.

“The Government’s half baked policy approach to housing is having devastating real life impacts. We know that two-thirds of young adults are still living in their childhood bedrooms, we have record breaking levels of homelessness which continue to skyrocket under the watch of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, and we have a rental market in utter disarray.

“Nowhere is this Government’s failed housing policy more evident than in the failure for Minister O’Brien to focus on the delivery of social and affordable homes.

“The delivery of social and affordable homes is crucial to protecting those at the hard edge of the rental market. We need to see more focus and funding given to local authorities to get back to building and providing social and affordable homes if we are to meaningfully address the housing crisis. Government is failing to do so.

“Housing for All could easily be renamed Housing for Some. We need to build more homes and, as our population continues to grow, we need to create an affordable and sustainable housing market.”