LABOUR Party housing spokesperson and Limerick TD Conor Sheehan has called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to explain comments made regarding the Irish housing crisis in the White House on his state visit to the US.
During their meeting in Washington, US President Donald Trump was asked what Ireland had to do to build thousands more homes a year.
“You know why they have a housing crisis? Because they’re doing so well, they can’t produce houses fast enough,” came President Trump’s reply.
“That’s a good problem, not a bad problem.”
The Taoiseach then interjected to say that was a “good answer”.
Limerick politician Conor Sheehan believes that the Taoiseach now has “serious questions” to answer on his return from Washington after the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
“We know that Donald Trump likes to make news and break records, and it is shameful that the Taoiseach did not own up to his role in the greatest crisis in Ireland – the housing crisis,” Deputy Sheehan opined.
“Failed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policy has brought us to a shameful record of over 15,000 people living in homelessness, including 4,603 children. The Taoiseach’s reaction to Trump’s assessment of the housing crisis as a result of Ireland’s success is outrageous.
“It goes to show what those on the hard edge of the housing crisis are up against. A Taoiseach who laughs at the crisis of our times, a Minister who has disappeared, and his assistant Minister proposing putting our young people in sheds, rather than focusing on delivering sustainable, long term housing solutions.”
The Taoiseach’s comments, Deputy Sheehan continued, are in the context of CSO figures outlining that planning permissions granted for apartments are down 39 per cent last year, something that raises serious concerns for the long-term supply of homes.
“The trends in housing are all going in the wrong direction – delivery of homes is going down, while homelessness and demand for housing continues to soar. The Taoiseach’s response? Slap his knees and chuckle all the way from Washington. He will have serious questions to answer on his return,” Deputy Sheehan concluded.
