"Dire" need for affordable housing in An Rinn

The ‘dire’ need for affordable housing in the Déise Gaeltacht, An Rinn, has been raised in the Dail by Sinn Féin TD, Conor McGuinness, who rued the coalition’s “failure” to include the issue in the Programme for Government.

The west Waterford TD called on the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, to tackle the crisis in the Déise Gaeltacht.

Deputy McGuinness said that the lack of affordable housing in the area is creating a problem for who want to live in the Irish-speaking part of the county.

He said that residents have a right to raise their children using the Irish language but that the affordable housing is not there to enable such ambitions.

In a statement in Irish, the Gaeilgeoir criticised the “failure” of the government to include the ‘desperate’ need for affordable housing in Gaeltachts across the country. 

Despite the lack of inclusion in the government formation document, Deputy McGuinness called on Minister Calleary to tackle the crisis.

Dúirt Teachta McGuinness: “Tá géarghá le tithíocht inacmhainne ar mhaithe le clainne óga ó Ghaeltacht na nDéise atá ag iarraidh maireachtaint ina gceantair féin, Gaelainn a labhairt agus a gcuid páistí a thógaint trí mheán na Gaelainne.

“Tá an ceart sin acu ach níl na tithe ann chun gur féidir leo é sin a dhéanamh. 

"Níl faic sa chlár seo mar gheall ar thithíocht inacmhainne i gceantar Gaeltachta ar bith agus tá géarghá leis. Is teip ar theip ar theip atá sa chlár seo. 

"Cuireann sé díomá ollmhór orm nach bhfuil sé seo léirithe sa chlár Rialtais agus nach bhfuil aon dul chun cinn le tarlú faoin Rialtas seo.

“Tá mé ag impí ar an Rialtas agus ar an Aire Gaeltachta nua dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim seo agus, cé nach bhfuil sé sa chlár Rialtais, cinnte a dhéanamh go bhfuil sé mar sprioc ann.”