Sinn Féin TD for Galway West/South Mayo Mairéad Farrell has raised the recent figures showing that AirBnB has 20 times the properties than Daft.ie has in Galway with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Deputy Farrell said that Government inaction in the rental sector is to blame for this situation, as the Government lifted the no-fault eviction ban before a proper plan to support renters facing NTQs was put in place.
“It’s been reported that there are 20 times the number of short term lets on AirBnB as the number of long term lets on Daft.ie in Galway. At the same time we have 500 people in emergency accommodation in Galway. We have many more who are living with family members as a result of being homeless,” she said in the Dáil.
“I have people coming to me every single week of all ages – single, families – who are facing eviction as a result of the lifting of the no-fault eviction ban.
“What does the Government say to people who feel they will never own a home and are faced with a rental market where there is no stability and virtually nothing to rent?”
“As I’ve told the Taoiseach before, there are many young couples who feel they simply cannot start a family because they are in such a precarious housing situation
Her comments come as homeless numbers hit a record of 12,259, with 500 people accessing emergency accommodation in Galway as of the last week of April and many more in hidden homelessness, staying in overcrowded accommodation with friends and family.
“The fact that there are 20 times the number of short term rental properties on Airbnb as there are long term rentals on Daft.ie highlights the terrifying situation that renters are in in Galway.
“The number of available homes to rent are hitting record lows while the level of homelessness hits record highs. Government must act to protect renters and re-instate the no-fault eviction ban until proper protections are in place.”
