Throwing billions of euros at the housing crisis without announcing a radical reset in policy will result in the same shortcomings successive governments have been defined by, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne.
Deputy Hearne said:
“While an increase in funding is required to deliver the level of housing Ireland needs, the primary reason we find ourselves in this catastrophe is due to policy.
“The National Development Plan gives no indication that the government is planning to move away from the measures that have plagued housing provision in the last decade, the failed policies which pander to developers and investment funds.
“No amount of money can solve the housing crisis if the government refuses to change its approach to providing social and affordable homes – today’s 46 page document gives me no reason to believe that it intends to do otherwise.
“Last month’s shocking homeless figures showed there were 15,747 people living in emergency accommodation at the end of May, another new record – what part of today’s plan shows how their trauma will be ended?
“Housing Minister James Browne has pushed out this government’s housing plan, which was due this month, with no new date for its publication – without details of a change in approach, why would anyone believe this coalition can deliver 300,000 homes by 2030?
“Minister Browne called this delay “common sense” – there has been no common sense in this government’s approach to housing, from pulling the plug on 500 shovel-ready social homes to gutting the Tenant in Situ Scheme and ending rent caps, threatening even more people with homelessness.
“The government is taking the locked-out generation for fools, but our young people are reading the writing on the wall and leaving our shores in their droves, and will continue to do so if a radical reset in housing is not instated.
“The last government committed to transforming housing provision during its term – it failed. The NDP has given us no reasons to believe that this government’s commitment won’t turn out the same.
“The coalition must commit to a system which prioritises renters and people who want to own their own home – without this focus, throwing money at the housing crisis and hoping for a miracle is doomed to fail.”
July 22nd, 2025