The Taoiseach has been accused of “misrepresenting, lying and deflecting on housing”.
Sinn Fein’s Eoin O Broin continued his blistering attack on Micheal Martin saying the Taoiseach “doesn’t understand” housing and that he is “desperate.” Mr O Broin was speaking after housing minister Darragh O’Brien produced the latest Housing for All programme update alongside the Taoiseach at Government Buildings yesterday.
Launching the update, Mr Martin hailed the programme to date, claiming that since the launch of Housing for
All last September, major targets had been hit. Mr Martin said: “Housing for All provides a comprehensive plan and record levels of funding to tackle the single most urgent and important social issue facing our country.
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Despite the challenges, we are on track to deliver 24,600 new homes in 2022 – and we need to do more. “This new Croi Conaithe Towns scheme will help turn vacant properties into homes again and create vibrant communities.
“It is one of a range of measures in Housing for All designed to ensure that everyone has access to good quality housing, and access to sustainable towns and villages.” However, Mr O Broin slammed the government claims and went on to directly attack against the Taoiseach. He said: “The Taoiseach doesn’t understand and he is desperate to save his political future.
“He will misrepresent, he will lie and he will deflect. As long as we let that continue to happen, the housing crisis will get worse.”
Mr O Broin said that figures provided to him by Mr O’Brien’s department officials showed the government was missing targets by a long shot. He added: “Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien and Taoiseach Micheal Martin repeatedly claim that the government will deliver 9,000 new-build social homes this year.
“They have also promised to deliver up to 1,200 affordable homes to rent and buy by December. Figures released to me in response to a Parliamentary Question show that the government met just 7% of their social housing target by the end of Q1 this year.
“The total number of new social homes delivered by the end of March was just 639. “Output at the same time last year was at a similar level and, by year’s end, government had missed their overall target by 30%.
“Darragh O’Brien blamed the Covid-19 construction sector shutdown for last year’s missed targets. “This is not an excuse he can use this year.”
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