Liadh for President
Liadh for President

EU and UN condemn Fine Gael failures on housing – Ní Riada

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has said only a change of Government can solve the housing crisis.

The Ireland South MEP was speaking in the wake of a series of reports condemning the Government’s inaction on housing and homelessness.

“This Government has proven that not only are they incapable of addressing the housing crisis but they have no interest in even trying,” she said.

“Earlier this month the European Commission’s annual report on Ireland stated clearly that the increasing levels of homelessness in Ireland are caused by a lack of social housing.

“Last week the UN issued an absolutely scathing letter reprimanding the Irish government for policies that have actively encouraged the financialisation of the real estate sector and which have directly caused the extreme rise in homelessness we have witnessed.

“And just yesterday we received the latest figures on homelessness showing that the state has now, for the first time, broken through the 10,000 barrier with 10.264 people officially registered as homeless, more than a third of them children.

“Since Fine Gael took office there has been a 490% increase in the numbers of homeless children.

“What more does Fine Gael have to do to show people they have zero interest in doing anything to address this crisis.

“The EU can see it, the UN can see it and we have more than 10,000 people in the state who can attest to it personally.

“It’s quite clear that the only hope we have of tackling the issues of housing and homelessness is a complete change of government. Fine Gael are ideologically wedded to the system that has created this crisis. They cannot solve the problem because they are part of the problem.”

Copyright 2024