LABOUR councillor Conor Sheehan has called for urgent action on housing and for the government to support his party’s Private Member’s Motion on housing in the Dáil.
According to the City North representative, the government’s insufficient response has led to record homelessness, soaring rents, and inadequate housing supply.
The Labour Party, he maintains, have now outlined a series of strong proposals to transform housing in Ireland, which included a three-year rent freeze, an end to no-fault evictions, and greater restrictions around evictions.
“Families facing eviction, children without homes, and a rental market spiralling out of control. The housing crisis has reached catastrophic levels,” Cllr Sheehan declared.
”The statistics speak volumes: 19,011 eviction notices issued in 2023, with a staggering 61 per cent attributed to property sales. Meanwhile, over 4,000 children are without a place to call home – a 17 per cent increase in just one year.
“From canvassing locally, housing is constantly coming up on doors. I’ve witnessed firsthand the anguish and uncertainty gripping families. Families worrying about eviction, adults living in their childhood bedrooms, and people not being able to find a place to call home. It’s a dire reality for communities across Ireland and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are failing to address the disaster.”
Cllr Sheehan believes that Labour have come up with a “comprehensive vision” for housing reform, focusing on robust solutions to address the crisis.
“Through the establishment of a State Housing Construction Company under the LDA, we aim to ramp up public home delivery to over 20,000 annually, with 12,000 social homes and 10,000 affordable units.
“Furthermore, a dedicated skills plan will ensure the construction sector can meet the demand, targeting 50,000 new homes per year.
“In addition, our Renters’ Rights Bill is a crucial step towards providing security and stability for tenants. A three-year rent freeze and restrictions on evictions, including an end to no-fault evictions, are essential to safeguarding renters’ rights.
Calling for action, Cllr Sheehan said that “the time for rhetoric is over”.
“Government must support Labour’s motion in the Dáil and implement our comprehensive plan to address homelessness, strengthen renters’ rights, and accelerate home construction. The time for action is now.”
