Government inaction fuelling dangerous housing conditions
Government inaction fuelling dangerous housing conditions - The Labour Party
- Labour demands crackdown on slum landlords
Labour’s Housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has called for urgent Government action after visiting a two-bedroom house in Limerick where eighteen people were living in deeply unsafe conditions. The house, crammed with beds, was described by Deputy Sheehan as “a massive health and safety risk” and a stark symptom of the worsening accommodation crisis. He urged Government to finally act on slum landlords and commit to a serious programme of regulation and investment in safe, affordable housing.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“I was truly shocked to witness the conditions in this house in my own city of Limerick. Eighteen people were living in a two-bedroom property, misled into thinking this was acceptable accommodation. It was overcrowded, unsafe, and frankly disgraceful. You can imagine the chaos – bunk beds crammed into every room, with no space for dignity or privacy.
“This is a symptom of a much bigger problem. Unfortunately, for far too many people, there simply isn’t decent and affordable housing available. The accommodation crisis is as bad as ever. Instead of being able to live and work in safe and secure homes, thousands of people face a year of torturous commutes, the prospect of living in overcrowded or substandard conditions, or even the devastating reality of dropping out of college or leaving their jobs altogether. Government has failed to grasp the nettle.
“What I saw this week makes it clear that we need a proper crackdown on slum landlords. People are being taken advantage of and misled into living in conditions that put their health and safety at risk. This is not just a matter of poor quality housing – it is exploitation, pure and simple.
“Labour has long called for serious enforcement against rogue landlords who profit from human misery. Time and again, Government has promised action, but they have consistently failed to deliver. It is young people, workers, and students who are paying the price.
“I am calling on Government to take a serious look at what is happening on the ground in accommodation right across the country. We need strong regulation and enforcement to protect tenants from exploitation, and we need a major public housing and student accommodation programme to ensure safe, affordable homes for all.
“This crisis is deepening every year, yet the response from Government has been piecemeal and inadequate. Enough is enough. Labour is demanding urgent action now to end the scandal of slum landlords and to finally tackle the accommodation crisis in Ireland.”