Ructions in the Dáil as Sinn Féin clash with Government over housing record
The Tánaiste strongly rejected the assertions, leading to heckles from the Sinn Féin benches and a slapdown from Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl.
There were ructions in the Dáil on Thursday in the final Leaders’ Questions of the year, as Tánaiste Micheál Martin defended the Government’s record on housing.
Sinn Féin’s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty raised the most recent social and affordable housing statistics, saying that the Government will fail to reach their target for 2023.
The Tánaiste strongly rejected the assertions, leading to heckles from the Sinn Féin benches and a slapdown from Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl.
According to the Department of Housing, in the first nine months of 2023 there have been 4,815 social homes delivered.
However, only 2,642 of these are new build, with the remainder being acquisitions and leasing.
This compares to the target within the Government’s Housing for All plan of 9,100 new build social homes in 2023.
Additionally, there have been over 2,000 affordable homes delivered in the first nine months of 2023, compared to the overall target of 5,500.
Mr Doherty said that the latest figures “makes clear once again” that the Government will miss both its social and affordable housing targets for 2023.
“Your social housing targets are far too low and you’re still failing to deliver on them,” Mr Doherty said, adding that the ongoing housing crisis is both an issue of supply and affordability.
The Donegal TD referenced a recent report by the Society of Chartered Surveyors, which highlighted the cost of new build homes in the greater Dublin area rising to €461,000, up €90,000 from three years ago.
He said that this is “well beyond the reach” of first time buyers, describing the failure of reaching targets as a “complete shambles”.
In response, the Tánaiste said that housing is a “key priority” of the Government and that they will have delivered over 100,000 homes since they took office in 2020.
Mr Martin highlighted an ESRI report, published today, which estimated that housing completions this year will be between 32,000 and 33,000.
He added that quoting figures solely from the third-quarter of the year does not give an “accurate depiction”, citing that significant amounts of delivery occurs in the final quarter.
“The Minister for Housing is very confident that in respect of social homes, it’ll be a record year in terms of not just build, but in terms of acquisition as well,” Mr Martin said.
On affordable homes, Mr Martin said that Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is confident that there will be more than 4,000 affordable homes built in 2023.
He criticised Sinn Féin, saying that they “glossed over” the fact the Government hit the overall housing target in 2022.
In response, Mr Doherty said that Mr Martin isn’t listening and that the Government are presenting an “illusion” over social and affordable housing targets.
Mr Martin said that Sinn Féin failed to say that there had been a significant delivery of social housing last year, saying that more were built in 2022 than any year since 1975.
During his response, both Mr Doherty and Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin interjected and criticised Mr Martin over his comments.
However, following a series of heckles from Mr Ó Broin, Mr Ó Fearghaíl strongly rebuked him, saying: “This is strategic heckling, please allow the Tánaiste to respond.”
“Deputy Ó Broin, Leaders’ Questions has got nothing to do with you. You have to wait until your leader [of Sinn Féin].”
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