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Pringle cites Donegal, Sligo rent increases as he slams ‘Housing for All’
- Updated: 22nd May 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, cited figures that showed Donegal and Sligo have seen some of the country’s highest rent increases in the first quarter of this year, as he slammed the ongoing failure of Government’s Housing for All policy.
Addressing the Dáil on Tuesday, Deputy Pringle said: “It has been two and a half years since Housing for All was published and what has the Minister to show for it? Record-breaking homelessness, crumbling houses, defective dwellings and tents of asylum seekers.
“One thing is certain. Minister O’Brien has not provided housing for all. Far from it, actually.
“The housing situation in this country has never been so dire. Secure and stable housing has become completely inaccessible to many. This speaks to a complete failure of government policy. Or maybe it is a success. Because the only conclusion that can be drawn is that this is how the government wants it to be and it is government policy,” he said.
The deputy was speaking during Statements on Housing for All.
Deputy Pringle said: “Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have created a crisis of unprecedented proportions, which is being felt by everyone.
“Even the Housing Commission has called for a ‘radical strategic reset’ of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil housing policy and condemns the ‘ineffective decision-making and reactive policy-making where risk aversion dominates’.
“The housing shortage, along with the cost of living, has made owning a home a pipe dream for most people in my constituency and across the country. Renting isn’t an option for many either.
“It has been revealed this week that Donegal and Sligo have seen some of the highest increases in rent prices in the first three months of 2024. The latest Daft.ie report shows that rents in Donegal were 13.3 percent higher than a year previously, with the average rent price in the county now standing at €1,126.
“People are already struggling with current high rents. Further increases will make housing costs an insurmountable struggle for many and will push people into poverty.
“How far is the government willing to push its citizens to the brink?
“The Housing Commission has reported that Ireland has, by comparison with other European countries, one of the highest levels of public expenditure for housing, yet one of the poorest outcomes.
“This is a disgrace and demonstrates just how incompetent the Housing Minister and his government are.
“And I would urge all of those voting in the upcoming local and European elections to consider this government’s housing record. We are being told that more houses are being built than ever before and that the government is serious about tackling the housing crisis, but the facts and the numbers speak for themselves. Record homelessness speaks for itself.
“It is time for a government that speaks for the people,” he said.
