Mental health consequences of housing crisis and vulture funds very real and extremely alarming- Liadh Ní Riada MEP

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has said she is deeply worried about the impact of the housing crisis on people’s mental health.

The Ireland South MEP said “the government needs to get real and deliver affordable housing.”

Ms Ní Riada also criticized the Taoiseach and Minister Eoghan Murphy for allowing “ego to dictate government policy, instead of doing what is right.”

Speaking from Kerry today, the Ireland South MEP continued;

“Not being able to afford or secure a home is having serious and dire mental health consequences for an entire generation.

"This is not just an issue in our cities but also in our rural towns and villages.

“I have spoken to people on the campaign trail who feel utterly worn down by stress and anxiety because of housing insecurity - houses are far too expensive, rents are too high and it is too easy for a landlord to end a tenancy agreement.

"Meanwhile, in rural Ireland the spectre of vulture funds looms over entire townlands and people are terrified of losing farms that have been home to their families for generations. This breeds crushing insecurity and uncertainty.

“Having a stable home is a basic human need and that need is not being met for so many people. It is coming up everywhere I go. It is damning failure of government policy.

“I have serious fears for children living in the shadow of housing insecurity and poverty.

“It is time for the government to get real. There’s been enough of bluff and dodge. They’ve gotten it badly wrong. However, rather than admitting that they are wrong, Varadkar & Co have dug their heels in.

“They would rather see more families evicted than change direction. Make no mistake, families face losing their homes every day in Ireland because of the Taoiseach’s ego and the egos of those who surround him in government.

“It is clear what is needed - a genuine strategy for the building of thousands of affordable homes as well as state led delivery of social housing on a massive scale.

"The impact the lack of home security is having on the mental health of an entire generation is yet another shameful legacy this government is leaving our country."