Cost of addressing Mayo's dire housing need estimated at €634m.
A Mayo TD has said that the government is failing to deliver social housing after new figures showed that 4,018 people in Mayo are on social housing lists or in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
The Parliamentary Budget Report estimates that 4.4% of the entire Irish population has an ongoing need amounting to at least 235,659 people of which 92,116 (or 39%) are children.
It estimates the total build cost for all households with an ongoing need is €34.95 billion.
In Mayo the estimated cost of building accommodation for the ongoing need is more than €637 million.
Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh added that the only way to start fixing the government's mismanagement of the housing crisis is by changing it.
She elaborated: “We know that the figure of 4,018 people with a housing need in Mayo is only those who fall inside the strict eligibility criteria.
"There are many more in desperate need of affordable suitable housing who are not even considered.
"This is further evidence of the government’s inability to fix the housing crisis and their failure to deliver social and affordable housing for those who need it.
“The report, published by the Parliamentary Budget Office, estimates that the number of social homes across the state must be increased 56 per cent just to meet the current deficit, yet only last month Taoiseach Simon Harris inexplicably claimed that a sufficient volume of social housing was being delivered.
“These figures rubbish the Taoiseach's claim and show just how out of touch he and his government are when it comes to their failures to address the housing crisis.
“But none of this will come as a surprise to those struggling to put a secure and affordable roof over their heads.
“Last week alone, three independent reports were released by the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland, the Central Statistics Office and Savills. These reports once again highlighted that the government’s housing plan is not working.
“The three reports highlight sky high house prices, chronic undersupply and the growing affordability challenge for working people looking to rent or buy a home.
“During all of that time, house prices, rents and homelessness have risen to historic highs.
"Meanwhile, the delivery of social and affordable homes has been unacceptably low. Over €1 billion of taxpayers money is spent each year on housing subsidies while the housing crisis deepens.
“What we need is less backslapping by government ministers and delivery at scale. People are tired of empty promises and superficial announcements. They want to see real action."