Labour’s local election candidates Niall Mc Nelis, Helen Ogbu and John McDonagh have demanded immediate action to address the escalating housing crisis, as revealed by the latest Myhome.ie publication on property price inflation.
The three labour Candidates said the Myhome.ie report serves as a stark reminder of the Government’s failure to prioritise the housing crisis.
“As we witness Simon Harris’s coronation, we are confronted with record homelessness, soaring rents, and exorbitant house prices. What will Simon Harris change about it, based on Fine Gael’s record? Nothing,” said Cllr McNelis.
He said tha the market’s 6.5% asking price inflation and a record low housing supply of 10,935 properties for sale in the entire county alone signify a dire situation. Government’s reliance on private development exacerbates the problem, leaving countless individuals and families without access to safe, affordable housing.
Ms Ogbu said that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s feeble attempts to address the housing crisis are simply inadequate.
“To suggest that ‘we have turned a corner on housing’ is an insult to those for whom home ownership remains a distant dream. I’ve said many times, housing is the number one issue coming up when we have knocking on doors in Galway City,” she said.
Mr McDonagh said that Labour has a vision for housing.
“At our conference last month, we reiterated our call for urgent measures to address the crisis.
“We demand the deep retrofitting and revitalisation of 50,000 homes annually, alongside the construction of 50,000 new homes. These measures are not merely suggestions but imperative steps towards resolving the housing emergency gripping our nation,” he concluded.
