The Government is failing in its efforts to address the housing crisis, the leader of the Labour party has said.

Ivana Bacik is calling on the coalition to stop with its “flashy once-off” announcements and instead focus on improving the quality of living in Ireland.

She notes that since the Government’s Housing for All plan was launched in 2021, rents have increased by 26.9% and the price of a home has increased by 24%.

There has also been a 70.4% increase in child homelessness.

'Going backward'

Deputy Bacik said it was not good enough.

“The housing crisis is going backward under the watch of Fianna Fáil," she said.

"By any fair marker, this Government is consistently and persistently failing to meet its own targets.

“An analysis carried out by my office shows that this Government is failing on the three key metrics: the cost of rent, the price of a home, and the levels of homelessness.

“Rents are up, house prices are up and, most shamefully, homeless figures are up - we now have 4,401 children in homelessness.”

A new development of 800 homes under construction in Carrigaline County Cork. Image: David Creedon/Alamy

She described the figures as “grim,” with “a story of human tragedy behind each one.”

“A story of major delays, a rental trap, overcooked house prices, and systemic policy failings,” she said.

“For anyone struggling with rising house prices, rising rent, and rising homelessness, they will be deeply frustrated at the lack of ambition or action from Government in tackling the housing crisis.

“Rents have increased by over 25% since the Government launched its plan, and we know there is a desperate lack of rental homes available on the market.”

Evictions

The Dublin Bay South TD noted that evictions are also on the rise.

“With 25,000 eviction notices issued in the last year alone, it should come as no surprise that we have record homelessness,” she said.

“It’s risen from 8,656 people living in homelessness in September 2021 to 14,429 people now in homelessness based on the Department’s most recent update in July of this year.”

Labour plan

Deputy Bacik said the housing crisis “doesn’t have to be this way.”

“Labour has a clear plan to build better, together,” she said.

“To safeguard children and protect them from entering homelessness, to ensure strong protections for renters, and to ramp up the delivery of homes at a level necessary to tackle the chronic shortage in the housing market.

“Our ambitious housing plan is worth fighting for even if those in Government have given up.”

There were 32,695 homes built in Ireland last year.

Main image: Labour's Ivana Bacik speaking at the Dail plinth outside Leinster House in July 2021. Picture by: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie