The Government “hoodwinked” voters on housing during the election, the Social Democrats have claimed.
Last year, both Micheál Martin and Simon Harris said they expected around 40,000 houses would be built in 2024 - significantly more than the 32,525 built in 2023.
However, when the final figures were released in February, it turned out only 30,330 were completed - 7% fewer than the previous year.
Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne told Newstalk that the election result might have been different had voters known the truth.
“They knew they were never going to get near 40,000 homes but their key narrative during the election was, ‘We have turned a corner on housing,’” he said.
“I remember talking to people on the doors of Dublin North West and some people were saying, ‘Oh, we’ll give Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, a go again because they do seem to have turned the corner on the housing.
“But now people clearly feel misled, they were hoodwinked.”
Builders at work in Newbridge County Kildare.Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ieNew data from Daft.ie found rent prices have risen by an average of nearly 6% across the country in a year, with the average monthly now costing €1,956 for a property.
Rents increased in County Limerick by 19%, while both County Cork and County Galway recorded a rise of 10%.
Deputy Hearne said it is proof that the Government must change its approach to housing.
“Most renters do not want to continue to rent in the private rental sector,” he said.
“They want to own a home of their own; the type of rental supply that they’re trying to attract with lifting the rent caps is more institutional investors.
“The property that they provide is really, really expensive, unaffordable rental property.
“So, at what point are rents going to come down under this economic approach?”
Deputy Hearne said building more social housing and affordable housing would help mitigate the crisis.
Main image: Simon Harris and Micheál Martin at a press conference. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie
