Revising housing targets on your way out the door is of little use to people struggling to put a roof over their head, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan.
Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said:
“We have known for some time that the Government’s Housing for All targets were not nearly ambitious enough to meet demand.
“Clinging on to these low targets for this long was an act of self-delusion.
“Today’s revised targets are an acknowledgement of huge unmet housing need. However, the reality is that people cannot live in a target – there must be a practical plan in place to turn these targets into homes.
“The plan should specify that at least a third of these homes will be affordable housing as the prices of homes currently being built by the private sector are not within reach of most people.
“The plan needs to be clear on what land these houses will be built. The Land Development Agency and local authorities should be playing a proactive role in the acquisition of land and the procurement of planning permission and utility connections. This will de-risk investment and bring down the cost of homes.
“There must also be a substantial investment in water and waste-water infrastructure to deliver on these targets. Ignoring this crucial step will delay any future increase in homebuilding.
“Coming up with new targets on the way out the door, without a plan to achieve them, is nothing more than a cynical election ploy.
“A generation stuck in their childhood bedrooms will not forgive these self-serving political manoeuvres.”
November 5, 2024