Local election candidate calls for radical approach to solving housing crisis
Sinn Fein's Sean Maher said cost of renting has almost doubled over last five years
“THERE needs to be a radical approach to solving the housing crisis in this country," Sinn Fein candidate in the Birr Electoral Area told the 'Tribune' this week.
He said “over the course of the last five years since the last local elections, the cost of renting a three-bedroom family house has risen from on average of €750 per month to nearly €1,400 per month in Offaly. During the same period homeless figures had risen from 10,380 people to just over 14,000, this included over 4,000 children registered as being homeless in this country.
“Time and time again we have heard the same rhetoric from FF and FG Housing Ministers saying we must do more and yet they turn around and lifted the eviction ban with the support of the Greens and likeminded Independents, knowing matters would get worse. The Housing for All strategy has failed to deliver the required number of houses needed each year now estimated to be 80,000 until the end of the decade, it currently stands at around 35,000,” he said.
“The next generation of young people will continue to leave our shores in their droves to seek a better future, leaving families heartbroken and in despair. Our hospitals and schools will continue to be deprived of young educated Irish professionals forced to emigrate due to the high cost of rent and lack of real affordable homes”.
Sean outlined what he saw as the solution to the housing crisis. He said “The current Government has to go, we need an election now and hopefully the people will elect a Sinn Fein led Government that will be ambitious, progressive, and have a radical housing policy to deliver for those young families and young people who want to remain and work in this country. We need to re-introduce a ban on evictions and introduce a ban on rent increases until homelessness is eradicated, and new housing builds can meet the needs of our people. On June 7th you can start that process by voting for myself and Sinn Fein candidates throughout the vountry”, Sean said.