National Housing Plan 'alarmingly out of touch with the scale of homelessness' says Offaly TD
Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has said she is deeply concerned by certain proposals contained within the Government's new National Housing Plan
Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has said she is deeply concerned by certain proposals contained within the Governments new National Housing Plan.
The Plan which is being described by Government as “unprecedented” in terms of investment comes at a time when the homelessness figures have hit record highs of 16,350. Within that number a total of 5,145 children are estimated to be now living in emergency accommodation:
“The fact is we have been here before on numerous occasions, with Plans to finally tackle the systemic barriers to homelessness and the lack of social and affordable housing. But nothing has changed; if anything, the situation has become increasingly desperate across all metrics such as rent hikes, emergency accommodation numbers, housing targets missed and construction cost inflation rising,” said Deputy Nolan.
“But that is a derisory figure in the grand scheme of things.”
“€100millon may sound a lot but the reality is that it would only get you 400 houses at an average price of €250k.”
“If we look at that in the context of the 13.9% (292) increase in the number of families who entered homelessness since last year we can see how low the level of ambition really is.”
“I have families in Offaly who are enduring a living nightmare week in and week out because of the lack of social and affordable housing. Parents are living in totally unsuitable accommodation. Renters are pushed to the wall because of extortionate rents. I am not sure what comfort those families will take from the details of this Plan.”
“We need delivery, and we need it now,” concluded Deputy Nolan.