Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The CSO residential property prices for County Laois showed a jump of 12% in a 12-month period. Wage inflation has not jumped to meet this. This is making it harder for ordinary workers to purchase their first home. Due to the spiralling prices more workers are reliant and waiting for some type of an affordable housing programme to come onstream. So far the Government has delivered only 30 affordable properties in Laois and they have not figured in County Offaly.

The people waiting for assistance from the Government will wait a long time because the Government missed its new social housing build targets by 11% last year. It also missed its cost-rental and affordable purchase targets by up to 60%. The Government is not even meeting the low targets it is setting for itself. People in their 40s, 50s and 60s are trapped in very expensive insecure private rental accommodation. Yesterday I had a couple in their 80s into me who are facing eviction because they do not have a secure tenancy. They have lived in the house for years as excellent tenants.

Generations are locked out of affordable homes. That impacts on the economy, people's health and public services. Sinn Féin is offering part of the solution through a viable working alternative for affordable homes. Because the scheme we propose means homes would be built on serviced State land, it would reduce the initial price with the development levies being waived. It would ensure permanent affordability for subsequent buyers as the homes could be sold to another buyer who qualifies under the terms of an affordable housing scheme. This is very important. I cannot see anything wrong with it and constituents I speak to cannot see anything wrong with it.

The Government's housing policy is failing people who are caught in the trap. Sinn Féin's housing policy would give people the opportunity to buy a home and, most important of all, it is designed to deliver for ordinary working families. They are the people in dire straits trapped in private rental accommodation that is insecure and they cannot get a way forward.

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