Sinn Féin “need the housing crisis”, Stephen Donnelly has claimed.

Over the past week, the Government’s record on housing has come under sustained scrutiny following the end of the eviction ban. 

Housing campaigner Fr Peter McVerry warned there would be many “heart-wrenching” stories about tenants evicted from their homes but the Health Minister defended the Government’s record. 

“What I see last year is the most amount of money spent on housing in a very, very long time,” he told Newstalk. 

“What I see is more social houses built than at any time in the last maybe 50 years - that’s what I see. 

“Sinn Féin say they want houses built on public lands but they oppose the Land Development Agency. 

AJ7G4T New holiday village housing Kenmare Ring of Kerry County Kerry Ireland

“They say they want houses in their constituencies but they oppose houses in their constituencies. 

“They say they want affordable housing but they oppose the Affordable Housing Scheme. 

“They say they want new houses for first time buyers but they oppose the First Time Buyers Scheme. 

“They say they want to renovate derelict properties but they oppose the Derelict Property Grant. 

“The truth is Sinn Féin need the housing crisis; the waiting lists are falling, the economy is booming, education is going very well [and] Ireland now has the highest life expectancy anywhere in Europe. 

“The housing crisis is very real - the Government is absolutely focused on it.

“But Sinn Féin, as far as I can see, will talk it up as much as they can and, critically, oppose every single measure that Minister O’Brien and the Government is bringing in to fix the problem.” 

Last month, Sinn Féin brought a motion before the Dáil urging the Government to keep the ban until January 2024 but it was defeated 81 votes to 67. 

The party has been contacted for comment. 

Main image: Stephen Donnelly. Picture by: Alamy.com