Fianna Fáil Under Fire Over Latest Housing Policies

Fianna Fáil has come under severe criticism for its recent housing policies, prompting a call for more substance and explanation.

A Fine Gael TD hit out at the party over the policies, urging them to explain how they will fund a special savers scheme to help first time buyers.

In a response to the housing proposals, Deputy Colm Brophy, TD for Dublin South West, compiled a report explaining the ideas in four categories: Illegal, Counterproductive, Already in Place, Paper thin.

"Fianna Fáil are completely trying to dodge scrutiny of their approach to housing and offer nothing rather than a soundbite with no substance or explanation," Deputy Brophy said.

"Last November, Micheál Martin said they would launch a special savers scheme to help tenants save a deposit with a 25% top-up. This would cost the State a minimum €1.74bn and Fianna Fáil have not once explained where this State funding would come from. This was just one finding when you study what Fianna Fáil have put forward. It is the usual reckless approach from them."


He continued: "Upon examining Fianna Fáil's so-called housing policies, which didn't take long, their strategy is now clear to me.

"Fianna Fáil will simply criticise the Government's housing plan endlessly. When asked to present their own policies, they will merely produce soundbites. And they will not put forward any policies until the last possible moment – if even then – so as to avoid all scrutiny of their ideas.

"This is classic reckless Fianna Fáil in action. They have no plans, no team and no solution."

The Dublin South West representative also claims Fianna Fáil sources have admitted in private to journalists that Fine Gael's housing plan is working.

"When Fine Gael's plan, 'Rebuilding Ireland' was launched in mid-2016, it included a commitment to deliver 125,000 new places to live by the end of 2021. We have already delivered 64,000 new places to live, with two years left to run on the plan, and even more houses are due to be built," he concluded.

(CM/JG)