Cllr Owen Hanley believes a radical new approach to housing is needed in Ireland.
Statistics released by the Department of Housing demonstrated that 75 per cent of social housing delivered in 2020 was either bought or leased from private developers.
"The 2020 housing statistics for the country highlight yet again the failing approach that the Government seems trapped in. If you look at the numbers for Galway we see this affect playing out with very real consequences," Hanley says.
"In the city of the 773 units provided in 2020 197 were built by the council or approved housing bodies while the remaining 577 were leased, rented or brought from the private market.
"In the county of 542 units provided, 452 were brought or leased from the private market while only 100 units were built by the public sector.
"This shows in Galway a stronger reliance on the private market to deliver public housing than nationally at almost 80 per cent private leasing and purchase, an ultimately futile and expensive effort."
Cllr Hanley is adamant that the Government's submission to private developers is reducing homeownership, particularly for people under 40.
"This agenda does not exist in a vacuum, it is part and parcel with increasing housing and rental costs.
The Daft 2021 report shows the average cost of a house in Galway city is now €325,534 with an 11.9 per cent annual increase and the average rents in the city are now €1,370 per month which is a 4.6 per cent annual increase.
"We know that homeownership in Ireland is decreasing and as of 2019 stood at 68.7 per cent with 40 per cent of 25-30 year olds living at home.
"Homeownership rates among 25-39 year olds has dropped from 22 per cent in 2011 to 16% in 2016, according to the official census data, and based on research Cairn Homes it was now just 12 per cent."
Significant change is required according to Cllr Hanley. "We need to see a dynamic shift in how we supply housing in this country," he adds.
"This must be funded by a transformative national effort unlike we have seen in decades that sees public housing, built by public bodies, on public land."
