FF stance on social housing ‘is hypocrisy’

Fianna Fáil’s criticism of the Government over the lack of social housing was last night condemned as “total hypocrisy” by a former mayor of Limerick who accused the party of adopting one stance at national level and a “not-in-my-backyard” attitude in Limerick.

Independent councillor John Gilligan’s comments came after Fianna Fáil front bench spokesman Willie O’Dea condemned a decision by the Department of the Environment to allocate €3.8m for the construction of 21 social housing units in the Rhebogue area of Limerick.

Residents of the area opposed the development claiming it could lead to anti- social behaviour and affect the value of their homes.

Supporting the residents, Mr O’Dea said the decision to go ahead with the development was a “negation of democracy”.

Mr O’Dea said: “They [the Government] have chosen to do it in a way which is by-passing the local council and this is very, very unfortunate and a negation of democracy and a form of dictatorship, really.

“People are left in a situation where if they want to object to a proposal which is going to affect how they enjoy the enjoyment of their own homes, which is a very fundamental matter, they are told it is all going to be decided by faceless bureaucrats.”

Mr O’Dea told Live 95 FM this was totally unacceptable, adding: “I think that is not good enough.”

Mr Gilligan, who lives in a council housing estate in St Mary’s Park, said Mr O’Dea’s position was typical of old-fashioned Fianna Fáil hypocrisy

“They shout out loud in Dublin on lack of action to tackle our huge social housing deficit, but then when a major development is being moved in Limerick to get people off our massive housing list of more than 5,000 people a leading frontbench member of Fianna Fáil comes along on local radio shouting this can’t go ahead in his patch,” he said.

Mr Gilligan called on the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to tell the thousands of people in Limerick who are waiting for social housing whether he agrees with Mr O’Dea and if the party will only agree to social housing in some areas.

Mr Gilligan, who when mayor of Limerick was praised for leading a major public campaign against feuding gangs in the city said the party “can’t have it both ways”.

“Micheál Martin must come out now and spell out in clear terms if his party is for social housing or against social housing. It will never be addressed if politicians say you can only have social housing in one area and not in another.

“That is not good enough. It sounds like the same old thing from Fianna Fáil. Saying one thing and trying to do another.

“There are thousands of decent people in Limerick crying out for social housing. Families are being forced to sleep on floors, families who would be an asset to any community,” he said.

The Department of the Environment has given the go-ahead for the 21-unit scheme and allocated the necessary €3.8m funding. The houses will be ready for occupancy in 2017.