{"id":23270,"date":"2021-09-29T09:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T13:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23270"},"modified":"2021-09-29T16:59:59","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T20:59:59","slug":"mcdonald-governments-affordable-housing-plan-is-absolute-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23270","title":{"rendered":"McDonald: Government’s Affordable Housing Plan Is ‘Absolute Failure’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mary Lou McDonald said no affordable homes to rent or buy were delivered in 2019 or last year (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Government plan to build affordable housing has been described as an \u201cabsolute failure\u201d after it emerged only eight homes will be delivered this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2018, the Government announced its Affordable Housing Fund to deliver 6,200 homes to rent or buy over a three-year period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u20ac310 million fund was to provide properties on local authority land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald said no affordable homes to rent or buy were delivered in 2019 or last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister for Housing Darragh O\u2019Brien confirmed in a parliamentary question to Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s Eoin O Broin that only eight affordable homes to purchase would be delivered by the end of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald described the plan as \u201can absolute failure\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She told the D\u00e1il: \u201cI think that\u2019s a slap in the face to every person who\u2019s in housing need across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted to ask you, therefore, Taoiseach do you accept that this scheme has been an absolute failure? And can you explain to us how it is that you will only deliver eight affordable homes this year?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said the 2018 initiative did not lead to an affordable home provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were not in an Executive position to determine that or deliver that we are now,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very focused on delivering on the commitments within the Housing For All strategy now that we are emerging from Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProgress is being made in relation to a number of programs, the first affordable homes will be developed in Cork this year, and the engagement has happened with local authorities to reform the service sites initiative schemes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Ms McDonald accused Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael of \u201crecycling failed policies\u201d in its new housing plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dublin TD claimed the Housing For All plan caters for the interests of big developers, large landowners, institutional investors and not those in housing need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald added: \u201cYou\u2019re big on numbers, big on targets, and very, very low on delivery. That\u2019s the reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know full well that so many are stuck paying massive rents, forking out as much as 2,000 euros a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how you put together a deposit for a house when you\u2019re paying that kind of rent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin defended the Government\u2019s delivery of homes over the last 18 months, referring to the number of lockdowns and its impact on the construction industry.<\/p>\n

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