Labour slams Taoiseach’s housing spin
Labour slams Taoiseach’s housing spin - The Labour Party
- Commencements plummet, prices still rising
Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has slammed the Taoiseach’s “desperate spin” on falling housing commencement numbers, following comments by Micheál Martin in Cork this afternoon defending a dramatic drop in new builds.
Speaking today, Deputy Sheehan said it was “completely disingenuous” for the Taoiseach to claim the fall-off in housing commencements was anticipated, after figures revealed that the number of commencement notices in the first half of the year was a fraction of what was seen in the same period in 2023 and 2022.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“This desperate spin has now been taken up by the Taoiseach himself. We had nothing but kite-flying and spoofing from Fianna Fáil in the run-up to the general election, and now Micheál Martin is trying to convince people that this nosedive in housing commencements was all part of the plan. That’s simply not credible.
“The waiver on levies might have expired, but that alone cannot explain the scale of the drop in commencements. It’s clear the sector is losing confidence in the Government’s approach. The truth is that Housing for All has failed. There’s a broad acceptance of this point among housing experts, developers, and even some members of Government themselves.
“Meanwhile, house prices continue to rise and renters are still being fleeced. We’re seeing students desperately searching for accommodation and young couples unable to buy. That is the reality behind the Taoiseach’s spin.
“It’s time for honesty and urgency. The housing crisis is the defining issue of our time and it demands more than excuses. We need a reset. Labour is calling on Minister Browne to urgently bring forward a new housing plan – one that acknowledges the Housing Commission’s recommendations and the economic uncertainty we’re now facing.”