Homelessness Crisis: Fianna Fail urge Government to use unspent cash to on housing

Government departments that fail to spend all of their annual budget should hand over the extra millions of euro to a new, ringfenced social-housing fund, the opposition has claimed.

Fianna Fáil environment spokesperson, Barry Cowen, said that his party would publish legislation outlining the measure before Christmas.

Speaking on the anniversary of homeless man Jonathan Corrie’s death outside the gates of Leinster House, Cowen said money that could address the crisis was being wasted.

The Laois-Offaly TD said the Government’s policy of rent certainty — which is expected to be signed into law this week — and modular housing will not stem the homelessness tide, and that the unspent cross-departmental funds could be key to solving the problem.

“We’re considering a bill whereby we would seek for all unspent department money to be ring-fenced for social housing,” Mr Cowen said.

“From my perspective, it’s badly needed. While there has been an almost guarded welcome to modular housing, only 22 have been built and just 500 over the course of a year.

“They’re supposed to be temporary, but they cost €190,000 each, so there’s far better value in additional social-housing funding or Nama homes, which should have been explored, and should still be explored.”