Latest Laois News: ‘D’Unbelievable’ Government sees Sinn Féin Housing motion adopted

Sinn Féin motion to address the Housing Crisis adopted by accident

Sinn Féin TD for South Kildare, Patricia Ryan TD, has described as laughable the fact that Sinn Féin’s motion to address the involvement by institutional investors in the Irish housing market has passed by accident when the several government TD’s, including at least 3 Ministers, forgot to vote against the Sinn Féin motion and also forgot to vote for the government’s counter motion. The Sinn Féin proposal which will double capital investment to deliver 20,000 homes to meet social & affordable need passed a vote in the Dáil yesterday evening.

The private members motion, drafted by Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin, was debated in the Dáil yesterday [Tuesday].

Teachta Ryan said:

“Urgent action is needed if this government is not to condemn yet another generation to yet more precarious rental situations. It goes beyond indifference to describe successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments attitude to housing, and don’t get me started on the Labour and Green Parties which acted as a mudguard when policies were introduced that stopped the building of public housing on public land.

We have had revelation after revelation that shows this government is working against the people. On one hand they pretend to want to do something about it, on the other hand the state is investing in the very cuckoo funds that have moved into the nest of first time buyers, and the very vulture funds that are picking at the carcass of any hopes that ordinary workers have of renting, let alone owning, their own home.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to buy a home as the cost of housing has increased by 30% since 2016, while the cost of renting has increased by 44% in the same period. This government announces plans to great fanfare but has not delivered. In 2016, Rebuilding Ireland promised to deliver 2000 affordable rental homes by 2018. To date not a single affordable rental home has been delivered.

Sinn Féin in government will turn housing policy away from benefiting vulture funds and other institutional investors, away from benefitting developers, and will turn the tide back in favour of ordinary workers and families. This government does not want to solve the housing crisis. It would not suit the cosy cartel of government TD’s and their investment or actual involvement in these vultures.

I am inundated with emails from people who are biding their time until the next election. The dogs on the street know that this government can’t solve this crisis. They should stand aside and let Sinn Féin show them how it is done.”

Speaking after the debate, Patricia said the following:

“The government’s indifference to the debate and the vote really sums up their attitude to housing. They are not interested in solving the housing crisis. Today I received an answer to a Parliamentary Question which shows that the government is not delivering good value for money. The long term leasing scheme leases houses for up to 25 years, at 95% of market rates.  The government spent almost €110 million euro last year on the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF)  and delivered 2,100 long term leased homes under this scheme. In Kildare this amounted to 130 homes leased, and the CALF funding was €8.2 million, shockingly bad value for money. I don’t blame Kildare County Council, they are given targets to reach by the government to lease these homes. We need to build more public and affordable homes on public land, its as simple as that.

CALF 2018 Delivery by Local Authority *

*Please note these figures do not include PART V units, which relate to Section 96 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (As Amended). Owing to the nature of the CALF, delivery of new housing does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and projects delivered under phased programmes may cross a number of payment periods. Approved Housing Bodies can avail of CALF funding of up to 30% of the capital cost of the project.

CALF 2019 Delivery by Local Authority *

* Please note these figures do not include PART V units, which relate to Section 96 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (As Amended). Owing to the nature of the CALF, delivery of new housing does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and projects delivered under phased programmes may cross a number of payment periods. Approved Housing Bodies can avail of CALF funding of up to 30% of the capital cost of the project.

CALF 2020 Delivery by Local Authority *

* Please note these figures do not include PART V units, which relate to Section 96 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (As Amended). Owing to the nature of the CALF, delivery of new housing does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and projects delivered under phased programmes may cross a number of payment periods. Approved Housing Bodies can avail of CALF funding of up to 30% of the capital cost of the project.