Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has said Sinn Féin’s ‘comprehensive and costed housing plan’ to solve the housing crisis will be ready to go from day one.
The Donegal TD along with Party President Mary Lou McDonald and spokespersons on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin and Public Expenditure Rose Conway-Walsh today launched A Home of Your Own, Sinn Féin’s plan to solve the housing crisis.
Deputy Doherty said “Today, we launched A Home of Your Own, Sinn Féin’s plan to solve the housing crisis. It is the most ambitious and meticulously researched housing plan ever delivered by any party.
“It would make homes affordable and bring home ownership back into the reach of working people.
“It is comprehensive, fully costed, and ready to go from day one in government.
“For those living in defective block homes the plan commits to 100% redress and an end-to-end scheme delivered by the housing agency. This is radically different to the government’s deeply flawed scheme that will leave so many homeowners behind.
“There are also precautions included in the plan to ensure such a crisis never occurs again.
“The 109-page document (available on the Sinn Féin website) sets out how in government Sinn Féin would deliver 300,000 public and private homes over five years; homes that are secure, adequate and affordable.”
Deputy Doherty added that the plan is based on extensive engagement with the public, semi-state and private sector development communities.
He added “To reduce waiting lists, the plan would see a doubling in the output of social housing to 75,000 new-build homes and 7,500 acquisitions over five years.
“It would see the delivery of 50,000 affordable homes delivered by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
“The plan would also deliver 115,000 private homes to buy for first time buyers and others, almost three times that which the current Government is delivering.
“In addition to increasing supply and driving affordability, the plan also sets out how we would meet the specific housing needs of people with disabilities, older people and Travellers.
“It also sets out detailed reform proposals for planning, land management, building control, low carbon housing, vacancy and dereliction to name just some of the sections.
“We believe that housing will be the key issue in the next general election and we want people to know the full details of our ambitious alternative.
“Therefore, in the coming weeks we will aim to put a summary of the document into every house in the state.
“We believe that everyone should have a home that is secure, adequate and affordable. Today, we have set out how we would achieve that aim.”
A Home of Your Own can be read here.
