People struggling to secure an affordable home deserve better than this half-baked Bill
Serious questions must be asked about why the Government is ramming the Affordable Housing Bill through the Dáil this week, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan.
“The Affordable Housing Bill is being rammed through the Dáil at breakneck speed. You have to ask, what is the Minister for Housing hiding? Why doesn’t he want his plans debated and scrutinised? Is it because the lobbyists have won, and the people have lost?
“The Government want us to debate, consider and vote on over 100 amendments to the 45-page Bill in just three hours. That is less than two minutes per amendment. This is not feasible. Many of these proposals and changes, including those tabled by the Green Party, will end up in the bin. This is no way to do business.
“Very serious warnings about aspects of this Bill have been issued by the Central Bank, the ERSI and senior officials in a number of Government Departments. Unfortunately, the Minister is ignoring all of them. Instead, he has chosen to remain on the side of the big builders, and construction sector interests, who have lobbied for a Shared Equity Scheme that will keep house prices high.
“If the Minister believed in his plan, he would allow this Bill to be examined and debated. It is clear that he doesn’t. This Bill requires a full and comprehensive debate.
“The people struggling to secure an affordable home deserve better than this half-baked Bill.”
5 July, 2021
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