Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has expressed concern after it was revealed that the Government has massively underspent its budget for social and affordable housing.
The figures were provided to Sinn Féin by the Department of Housing, confirming a €1billlion underspend in the capital budget for social and affordable housing from 2020 to 2023.
Brian Stanley said: “New figures provided to Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD by the Department of Housing show that from 2020 to 2022 Darragh O’Brien’s Department underspent its capital budget by €1,517,999.
“Of particular concern is that €1,004,926 of the underspend is from the capital budget for social and affordable housing delivery.
“This is shocking at a time of rising homelessness and a deepening housing crisis.
“The unspent capital funding could have delivered at least an additional 4,000 social and affordable to buy homes. This could have made a huge difference here in Laois-Offaly, where the effects of the housing crisis are clear to see.
“The level of red tape and delay imposed on Local Authorities and Approved Housing bodies by the Department of Housing and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is the key problem.
“Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and opposition politicians have been highlighting this problem for years, yet the Minister for Housing has refused to act.
“The Government’s incompetence has resulted in a billion euros of much needed housing funding unspent, at least 4,000 homes not built and thousands of people homeless as a result.
“It is clear that the Government is totally failing to get to grips with the housing crisis.
“Many people across Laois/Offaly are trapped in cramped housing, paying sky high rents and giving up hope of ever owning their own home.
“The government’s cruel decision to end the eviction ban with no plan in place to support the people affected will only worsen these issues in the coming weeks and months.
“Every day that this Government continues in office, they cause more and more damage to the lives of people affected by the housing crisis. People in Laois/Offaly deserve better, and they need a Government who are willing to tackle the housing crisis by delivering genuinely affordable homes.
“As Chair of Public Accounts Committee, I will be requesting that the Committee question the Department of Housing on this failure and what actions are been taken to speed up supply of housing.’’
