Donegal families constrained by ‘government inaction and policy gaps’ - Ward

100% Redress Party leader Deputy Charles Ward delivered a decisive, evidence-based speech in Dáil Éireann, calling on the Government to put families at the centre of housing policy.

Speaking with authority on the ongoing defective concrete crisis, Ward highlighted how thousands of homes in Donegal remain unsafe or unsellable, leaving ordinary people trapped by policy gaps and government inaction. He stressed that investor activity in housing markets, often portrayed as a solution, actually worsens scarcity and drives up costs, hitting families where it hurts most.

Deputy Ward emphasised that housing decisions must be assessed by their real-world impact, particularly in counties like Donegal, where structural failures in the housing stock continue to prevent families from moving, buying, or securing stable homes. The defective concrete crisis has left thousands of homes either unsafe or unsellable, creating a situation where families are trapped in properties they cannot leave, unable to plan for the future or pass on security to the next generation.

“Families in Donegal are constrained not by choice, but by government inaction and policy gaps,” Ward said. “People are trapped in homes they cannot sell, while opportunities for safe, affordable housing are taken out of reach. Policy must focus on people first, not profit.”

Ward challenged the Government’s repeated claim that investor funds provide relief by increasing housing supply. In reality, he explained, investors who buy homes for profit rarely increase available housing for local families. Instead, their activity inflates prices, restricts access, and adds pressure to an already stretched rental market. For Donegal, where housing supply is already extremely limited due to defective concrete, allowing homes to be treated as financial assets is particularly damaging.

Highlighting the national consequences, Ward noted that these policies not only affect Donegal, but also set a precedent that allows investor activity to distort housing markets across Ireland.

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By failing to protect local housing stock, government inaction forces families to compete against wealthy investors, exacerbating inequality and undermining the principle that housing is a human right.

As a Donegal-based TD, Ward has consistently raised the county’s housing challenges in the Dáil, highlighting the real-world impact of government decisions on families affected by defective construction. He has focused on policies that aim to improve housing access, protect local communities, and ensure that homes serve people rather than investors.

Ward concluded by reiterating the moral and social responsibility of government. “Housing is more than a commodity,” he said. “It is a fundamental right. If we fail to protect families from market pressures and policy gaps, we fail as a society. Donegal families deserve certainty, security, and respect - and housing policy must deliver that.”