“The Government’s affordable housing plan is in crisis as they delivered no affordable homes in Laois or Offaly last year.’’
So says Laois TD Brian Stanley who says that newly released figures from the Department of Housing show that the Government missed its affordable housing targets by almost 60% across the State last year.
And this, he says, includes none delivered in any of the four Midlands counties – Longford, Laois, Offaly or Westmeath.
Deputy Stanley said: “The complete failure to deliver any affordable to purchase homes or cost rental schemes is disappointing.
“It is clear that the Government is totally failing to get a grip on the housing crisis and their plans are not working.
“A whole cohort of workers and their families are in dire need of such schemes. They are trapped in the middle.
“Typically, their incomes are just over the limit for social/council housing, but they are unable to get a sufficient mortgage to purchase a home on the open market.
“The fact is that almost 3 years into their term of office the Government has failed to get schemes in place in Laois or Offaly and only 1,007 homes have been provided across the State that could be described as remotely affordable shows that they are just not serious about tackling the affordable housing crisis.
“The Government has shown time and time again that it is totally incapable of ending the housing crisis.
“Ordinary people across Laois / Offaly and the Midlands are left to pay the price for Government incompetence and poor planning.
“People are trapped paying sky-high rents, living in cramped unsuitable accommodation, and shut out from homeownership.
“Sinn Féin are demanding that the Government stop making false announcements and put in place badly needed affordable homes.”
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