Urgent intervention needed on housing crisis 

A candidate in the forthcoming local elections in Waterford has said urgent intervention is needed to address the housing crisis that exists within the Déise county.

Mairead McKnight, who will be a first-time candidate for the Labour Party, told the Waterford News & Star that Government negligence in the area is fuelling the housing crisis.

Ms McKnight, who will contest the election in the Tramore Waterford City West electoral area, made her comments in the wake of the publication of a Daft report confirming what she described as “the dire state of Ireland's housing crisis”.

The Daft Report revealed a record low of below 10,500 homes available for purchase in Ireland on March 1, this year.

"As Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil continue to implement policies that erode the social contract, they perpetuate the ongoing housing disaster,” she said.

“Our community in Waterford are suffering due to their failure to address the root causes of the crisis,” she added.

“Lack of affordable housing comes up again and again when I’m knocking on doors in my area of Tramore Waterford City West.” Ms McKnight said her party is urging the Taoiseach to prioritise the housing crisis. 

“Labour’s recent conference reiterated our call for urgent measures to address the crisis, including the deep retrofitting and revitalisation of 50,000 homes annually, alongside the construction of 50,000 new homes,” said Ms McKnight.

“These measures are not merely suggestions but imperative steps towards resolving the housing emergency gripping our nation,” she added.

She also said that any suggestion the country has “turned a corner on housing” would be “a slap in the face” to those for whom home ownership “remains a distant dream”.

Ms McKnight said it would also be a slap in the face for those who are struggling “paycheck to paycheck” and to those forced to seek refuge in emergency accommodation or who are on the streets.

“The time for empty promises and political gamesmanship is over,” she said.

“The people of Waterford cannot afford to wait any longer for solutions to the housing crisis,” she added.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil must take immediate action to rectify the failures of their policies. We must fight for a sustainable and equitable housing system that works for all.”