'Shocking failure of government to tackle housing emergency' – Mayo TD
Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh has said that the government’s housing plan is in shreds following the publication of 2024 completion figures by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
She elaborated: “Throughout 2024, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Housing said that 40,000 new homes would be built.
"They repeated this claim despite the CSO quarterly figures showing new home completions plummeting.
“The figures show that completions dropped by almost 7% compared to 2023 with only 30,330 new homes being built last year compared to 32,695 in 2023.
“These really are shocking figures, and my fear is that without a radical reset of housing policy these figures will continue to worsen.
“Thousands of families and individuals in Mayo are desperately looking for a home to buy or to rent. Too many children are growing up in unsuitable and unsafe conditions.
“These statistics represent real people – I have people in Mayo report to me that they are sleeping in their cars because they can’t secure affordable housing.
"I have witnessed people breaking down as they receive notices to quit from landlords and they know it will be almost impossible for them to get alternative accommodation.
"Most often there is no emergency accommodation in north and west Mayo.
“I am working with families who are crippled by the outworking of the housing policy of this government.
“Amongst the housing emergency is the hundreds of families impacted by Pyrite waiting to rebuild their homes and their lives.
"Imagine what it was like this week when the severe storm struck.
"Are the government still going to be arguing about thresholds?
"Too many are locked out because they cannot afford to access the current scheme.
"One hundred per cent address is the only way to ensure all victims of this scandal are included.
“My party published the most ambitious public housing plan in the history of the state committing to building 300,000 new homes.
"We have long fought for 100% redress for Defective Concrete Block victims as well as a full public enquiry."