Fears arise of 'demographic cliff edges' in Waterford towns
"Villages and towns are facing demographic cliff edges in many cases as young people from these communities are unable to set up homes and raise families of their own."
Towns and villages across the Déise are facing "demographic cliff edges" due to young people being forced to move from their hometowns by the lack of affordable housing supply.
"The lack of progress on affordable and social housing means villages and towns are facing demographic cliff edges in many cases as young people from these communities are unable to set up homes and raise families of their own," said Deputy Conor McGuiness, Sinn Féin TD for Waterford.
"This problem presents itself in Dunmore East, Tramore, Bunmahon, Dungarvan, Gaeltacht na nDéise, Ardmore and many other areas. In the latter there are very serious concerns about the ability of the village to survive as a community due to the inability of families to set up homes there," he added.
Deputy McGuinness drew attention to the results of a recent report from the Housing Commission which he said declared the current housing situation a crisis of unprecedented scale "that demands immediate and decisive action" and he emphasised the struggles of urban areas with housing.
During a Dáil discussion of the report, the Sinn Féin TD characterised the Commission report's analysis as identifying 'significant and sustained shortfall' across rural counties and Gaeltacht areas.
"House prices and rents continue to spiral," the TD said, noting that the recent Daft.ie report shows that rents in County Waterford had increased year on year by 10%, twice the rise in Dublin. "Meanwhile, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil throw numbers around like snuff at a wake in an effort to confuse, mislead and distract from their abysmal performance over recent years," he said.
The Sinn Féin spokesperson for Gaeltacht regions highlighted the plight of Waterford's Irish-speaking areas: "While there has been some progress in recent months, the slow saga continues and there is still not one affordable or social home built. Is amhlaidh an scéal é i nGaeltacht na nDéise."
