Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Around this time five years ago, local elections took place. We heard all the talk that there was going to be affordable housing delivered on the east side of Galway city. I distinctly remember people asking about the affordable housing that was going to be delivered. Since then, in the past five years people have consistently come to me and asked when that affordable housing will be delivered. That housing has still not been delivered. In fact, no affordable housing has been delivered in Galway city.

What does that mean for young people and young families who have grown up in Galway city and want their kids and the next generation also to grow up in the communities that raised them? As we know, it can be full communities that raise young families. The reality is that they cannot afford that, they have to move out of Galway city. So many of them are stuck in houses with three generations of the same family. Many are stuck in one room where siblings and young children share beds as well as with their parents because simply they cannot afford to live anywhere else. Everybody is affected by the Minister's poor policies, the lack of delivery and specifically by his lack of delivery on affordable houses. Rents are at record highs in Galway city. This means that in Galway city once again, people can find no accommodation within the housing assistance payment, HAP, limits and young renters are forced once again to move back in with their families.

It is not just young families who are impacted. Students who are trying to come to Galway, to stay in Galway and move out of their family homes in order to experience college life, are also impacted because, unfortunately, as a result of the Minister's policies, there is no such thing as affordable student housing. Instead, we see record high rents in very fancy student accommodation that is not needed. Students themselves tell us what they need is simple, straightforward accommodation. It is high time that the Minister delivered affordable housing in Galway city.

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