Stark warning issued over Mayo housing crisis: "It's going to get worse"
By Caoimhín Rowland
A staggering 13,502 people between the ages of 18 and 44 in Mayo are still living with their parents, a figure equivalent to the entire population of Castlebar, according to the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures.
Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne has issued a stark warning that the housing crisis gripping the county is only going to intensify, with skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable housing forcing young adults to stay in the family home far longer than previous generations.
Councillor Kilcoyne highlighted a recent case involving a local woman whose rent increased by over 100% in just one hike.
“She came to me in tears, asking ‘What am I going to do?’ She has children, and with the rent increase, she’s facing homelessness. It’s heartbreaking,” he said.
The councillor expressed frustration at being unable to help her, explaining that the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is capped, while there is no cap on rents, leaving vulnerable people at the mercy of landlords.
“People are making money off misery,” he stated. “Some landlords are decent, but others are cashing out. They’re selling their houses because, after paying tax, it’s no longer worth their while.”
The housing crisis is not only affecting individuals but entire families. Councillor Kilcoyne pointed out that more and more young couples are forced to live at home because they can’t afford to move out.
"In some cases, this puts an additional strain on elderly parents who lose out on benefits like the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance when their adult children move back in," he said.
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh echoed Kilcoyne’s concerns, arguing that it’s unnatural for so many young people to still be living with their parents well into their 30s and 40s.
“It’s wrong, it’s not normal, and it’s certainly not fair,” she said.
“The cost of trying to build on your own land is astronomical, and planning is another nightmare. Couples in Mayo trying to build their own homes are being crucified by rising construction costs.”
She criticised the government's lack of urgency in addressing the housing crisis, pointing out that every new housing development is met with fanfare, ribbon cuttings, and photo ops, but the problem remains unresolved.
“We’re not even scratching the surface,” she said. “House prices have risen by €100,000 since this government took office, and it’s completely out of control.”
Kilcoyne also linked the current housing shortage to the abolition of town councils, which, he said, used to build around 40 houses a year in Mayo.
“When town councils were abolished, nothing replaced them,” he said. “Now, the building has stopped.”
The housing crisis, Kilcoyne warned, will be a major issue in the upcoming general election.
“It has to be,” he said. “People don’t seem to realise that their inability to get a house or their children’s inability to buy a home has everything to do with government policies.”
Sinn Féin deputy Rose Conway Walsh expressed concern over the rise in emigration as young people look for opportunities abroad.
“They’re leaving because they can’t find a place to live. The fear is that when they’re gone, they’re out of sight and out of mind. But these young people need homes to come back to.”
Councillor Kilcoyne, reflecting on the toll the housing crisis has taken on his role as a councillor, said: “It’s soul-destroying.
"Every week, I have four or five people in my office, in tears because they’re facing homelessness. All I can do is talk to them and try to console them, but it’s not enough. We need real solutions.”