"Students and young workers who can’t find accommodation in Dublin. This is a lockout” - Mairead Tóibín
Aontú representative Mairead Tóibín has criticised the 15.2% rise in property prices over the last year
Mairead Tóibín said “The property market isn’t adjusting to the cost-of-living crisis. The two crises are only exacerbating each other. In March we saw a 7 year high in property prices, with a 15.2% increase on the year before. In Dublin alone, housing prices are 17.3% and apartments are 17.6% up from last year. Government policy has allowed investor funds to dominate the market, locking young Irish families out of the opportunity to buy a home.”
“Not being subject to income tax or capital gains tax, investor funds are at a competitive advantage compared to first time Irish buyers. Last year the government even ceded its responsibility in social housing to investor funds by allowing these funds to sidestep 10% stamp duty if they lease back houses to the state for social housing. The result is the price of a 3-bed home increasing €100 every single day.”
Mairead Tóibín continued “This government’s failure in housing has had real effects on young Irish families who can’t afford to raise their own children in their own home. Youth homelessness has increased by 90% in the last three years. At the same time, there are over 700 Irish families across our country without a place to call home.”
“Every week I hear stories from young Irish people, students and young workers who can’t find accommodation in Dublin. This is a lockout”
“We need an urgent and intensive response from the government in housing. It is vital that the government reduce the approval, tendering and procurement process for the building of public housing. The state must back funding for homeowners who cannot afford to get their housing fit for habitation so that it can be made available to the market. This transition can be supported by the introduction of a Vacant Property Tax which would end speculation.”
“The government keeps talking about their concerns, but we’ve seen nothing but failure, half-hearted attempts and even state policy fuelling the crisis. The consequence is that the housing crisis is at its worst point in decades and the government is failing multiple generations. We need serious action now.” Mairead Tóibín concluded
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