Sinn Féin spokesperson on housing, Dessie Ellis TD, is criticising NAMA for attempting to spin old undelivered promises on housing as a new story. A representative of NAMA speaking at the annual conference of the Irish Council for Social Housing said NAMA had offered 4,000 homes as part of a social leasing programme.
Deputy Ellis said:
“It is true that NAMA offered these 4,000 homes, having previously offered 2,000, but this was nearly a year ago.
“NAMA originally promised 2,000 homes at the end of 2011 and has not even delivered that. In reality, NAMA has delivered just 400 homes. At this rate it will take years to get close to 4,000 NAMA properties being made available.
“We have massive housing need in this state. Over the summer, the number of people on waiting lists for social housing reached a record high of 111,000. The small number of NAMA properties now occupied is a drop in the ocean but the government seem intent on wheeling out NAMA housing as the cure all for our housing crisis every few months. This is totally disingenuous. The people need housing not schemes and plans which don’t deliver.
“Sinn Féin last year published a plan to begin building 9,000 homes over the next two years. Even this would not end the crisis but it would help much more than empty promises from NAMA.
“Most of what this government has done since taking office has undermined and frustrated efforts to end the housing crisis. That needs to change now.”
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Hogan’s NAMA housing promises are old news – Ellis
Fine Gael and Labour to force 4.5 million cut in homeless services in Dublin – Ellis
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has blasted the government’s plan to cut €4.5 million from funding for homeless services in Dublin city. The cuts were confirmed by the Head of Finance at Dublin City Council, reporting that the Department of Environment had informed her of this plan for 2014.
Deputy Ellis continued:
“This is a shocking move by the government which has disingenuously committed itself to ending long term homelessness by 2016, a goal made farcical by its own policy decisions.
“Spending on housing and homelessness should be protected in the up-coming budget having been slashed for five consecutive years. This move is the betrayal of a promise made by the government only seven months ago.”
“The news comes in the week that the Peter McVerry Trust reported more people needing hot food and emergency shelter from them and Focus Ireland saying that there are seven new homeless people in the state every day.
“These groups have called for a political solution to the problem of homelessness. They have called for the government to play its part.
“There are 5000 people homeless, growing numbers sleeping rough and many tens of thousands living in housing not suitable for human habitation. This cut of €4.5 million (10.7% cut from 42 million in 2012) will be devastating to those who depend on these services.
“Homeless people are at much greater risk of physical and mental ill-health, as well as being vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse.