Decade of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policies is failing
Decade of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policies is failing - The Labour Party
Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD said the recent CSO data showing house prices increasing by €200,000 in a decade paints a picture of housing policy in free fall.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“It’s no wonder that our young people are leaving in their droves, that we struggle to keep public servants like Gardaí, teachers, SNAs, nurses and healthcare staff in this country when the cost of purchasing a home is out of reach for the majority.
“In a week where Minister Browne is more concerned about commemorating the Normans, it is revealed that the median house price in Ireland in March of this year was €362,500. This is before we factor in legal fees associated with the purchase of a home. It’s utterly out of reach for so many hardworking people in this country. Talk about priorities.
“Despite ample warning signs from many experts and multiple reports, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have clearly opted to ignore the housing crisis. Rather than changing tactics, this Government is wed to the same failed policies as its predecessor.
“Many of those people hoping to own a home are currently renters. With a Daft report this week showing average rents at over €2,000 nationally, it is virtually impossible for renters to cobble together money for a deposit.
“This is despite the fact that a Central Bank report in March of this year showed that the amount of savings in the economy is higher than ever, but Irish savers are getting a poor return on their savings.
“They say the trend is your friend and with this Government and this Minister, housing completions are trending downward, while rents, house prices and homelessness spiral upward.
“These trends are locking so many hardworking people out of any hope of owning a home of their own. It’s clear that a new approach is needed. A decade of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in power together is proving fruitless. The approach has failed.
“Renters, who are aspirational home owners, have been pushed to the bottom of the pile by Fianna Fáil in housing for the past 5 years, allowing blatant breaching of rules like rent pressure zones, and failing to give renters any power in the market.
“Rather than squirming to protect private interests, the Minister needs to take a look at the cold hard facts of housing. We’ve had a series of forecasts and reports and no change. It’s time to wake up and address the shortcomings of successive failed Fianna Fáil housing policy.”