Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said renters are being priced out of Dublin into commuter counties – but without proper infrastructure supports being put in place.
Deputy Murphy was commenting on today’s figures from the Residential Tenancies Board which show that in the four counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, the average rent now exceeds €1,000 per month.
The Kildare North TD said:
“Skyrocketing rents in Dublin are clearly driving demand in neighbouring counties in a way that is totally chaotic and unplanned. The chronic supply shortages and high prices in the capital are the root cause of the rent increases in the commuter counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. There is growing pressure on these counties in terms of provision of schools and other public facilities and services including transport links.
“The government had an opportunity, in its much-hyped National Development Plan, to commit to one key piece of infrastructure that would be a game changer for commuters from these counties who work in Dublin. Yet the Dart Underground, a fully costed and planned project, was not given the go-ahead.
“It is unforgivable that the government would overlook this electrified railway line which would link commuters from Kildare and Wicklow into Dublin city and beyond. Dart Underground is the crucial missing piece that would give commuters to Dublin the joined-up network of rail and light rail that the capital so badly needs.”
ENDS
21 March 2018