MacManus critical of FF absention

SINN Féin Councillor Chris MacManus has called on the Sligo Fianna Fáil TDs to explain why they abstained on the No Confidence motion in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy.

Councillor MacManus was speaking at a commemorative event in honour of Sligo’s Noble Six at Lislahelly at the foot of Benbulben.

Councillor MacManus said:“It is disappointing but not surprising that Fianna Fáil have once again backed their partners in Government Fine Gael by abstaining on our motion of No Confidence in Housing Minister Murphy. Local Fianna Fáil TDs need to explain their actions.

“Their support for Minister Eoghan Murphy and Rebuilding Ireland will come at a cost; increased homelessness, ever greater number of people locked out of secure and affordable homes, ever growing social housing waiting lists, and rising government expenditure on subsidising social housing tenants in the private rented sector. Given that this was Fianna Fáil policy from 2007 to 2011, maybe it is not so surprising that they were willing to back Fine Gael on this issue.

“Fine Gael’s housing policies are not only failing to tackle the housing crisis, they are actually making things worse. They have been in office for seven years and during that time homelessness has reached unprecedented levels. During their first term of office they slashed investment in social and affordable housing and cut staffing levels in Council housing Departments.

“Their current flagship housing policy, Rebuilding Ireland, has been in place for two years and the crisis shows no sign of abating. The plans underinvestment in social and affordable housing and over reliance on the private sector to meet social and affordable housing need repeats the mistakes of previous Fianna Fáil administrations with the same disastrous results.

“Eoghan Murphy has been Minister for Housing for 15 months. During his tenure, homelessness has increased 25%, child homelessness has increased 34% and pensioner homelessness has increased by 40%. Rents and house prices continue to rise well beyond affordable levels.

“Tens of thousands of homes lie vacant across the state. Real social housing output in 2018 will be lower than in 2017. Not a single affordable home has been delivered by any Government scheme under on his watch. And private sector supply is in the main overpriced and unaffordable.”