Does Sinn Féin understand the complexity of housing? – Bailey

The housing shortfall cannot be resolved by throwing money at the issue, as some of the Opposition parties would try to have the public believe, Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey has said.

Responding to accusations from Sinn Féin that Rebuilding Ireland is not working, Deputy Maria Bailey said, “It is deeply regrettable that Sinn Féin is yet again offering only headlines, where real and substantial solutions are needed.

“Does Sinn Féin understand that housing must be looked in totality? It is not simply a matter of funding.

“When we look at the overall supply of housing, there are really encouraging signs that home building is recovering. All supply indicators are showing positive trends two years into the five year Rebuilding Ireland plan,” Deputy Bailey said.

At the end of Q4 2017, the plan included 846 schemes which will deliver over 13,400 homes.

This breaks down to 6,670 through local authorities, 687 turnkey and 5,983 to be delivered under social housing, the capital investment programme, rapid and regeneration.
· Planning Permissions – 20,800 in 2017 – an increase of 27% on 2016
· Commencement notices – 18,100 new homes notified in the 12 months to March 2018
· CSO Quarterly National Accounts- show residential investment up 33% in 2017.

“In 2016 we were still feeling the effects of a collapsed residential construction industry; Rebuilding Ireland has allowed us to put solid foundations in place to rebuild.

“What Sinn Féin fails to recognise is the complexities around delivering housing – such as infrastructure or services, complex title and skill deficits.

“It is not just as simple as increasing funding, it is about finding solutions, which this Government is doing, to these pinch points rather than making political promises from the Opposition,” Deputy Bailey said.