Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has accused the Tánaiste of being “completely dishonest” over the Government’s housing policy, after they went head-to-head in the Dáil.
The Ceann Comhairle threatened to suspend the Dáil, as Sinn Féin TDs and Micheál Martin disagreed with a Government housing scheme.
Sinn Féin criticised an affordable housing scheme in Coolock in north Dublin, after it emerged earlier this week that a three-bedroom home will cost up to €475,000.
Mr Doherty described the house prices as “bonkers”.
The Tánaiste today failed to answer if he believes that €475,000 for a home is “affordable” under his Government’s scheme.
Instead he chose to mislead the Dáil because he knows it's not affordable.
We need to build affordable homes on public land. That's what a Sinn Féin led… pic.twitter.com/7cANXEgixnAdvertisement— Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) June 27, 2024
He added: “This week, Dublin City Council announced the prices of what this Government describes as ‘affordable homes’ in Oscar Traynor Road would be sold for.
“A sum of €400,000 is the lowest price people will pay for a three-bedroom home. The price will rise to €475,000.
“The sum of up to €309,000 is the price people will pay for a one-bedroom home in Oscar Traynor Road in Coolock.
“The Government calls this its affordable housing scheme. It is bonkers. This is the Minister and the Government’s idea of affordability.
“It is astonishing and people will wonder if they are living in a parallel universe.
“The question is how out of touch can the Government get if it thinks these prices are affordable?
“How can anybody stand over a scheme that offers a three-bedroom home for prices of between €400,000 and €475,000 and call it affordable?
“We warned the Government this plan would lead to homes that were unaffordable and out of the reach of ordinary people and we were right.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil refused to listen and look where we are today.”
Mr Martin accused Mr Doherty of leaving out details of the housing policy, including that the scheme approved by Dublin City Council contained 20 per cent affordable homes, 40 per cent social homes and 40 per cent cost-rental homes.
“Of the 853 homes we are talking about 20 per cent are affordable homes, 40 per cent are social homes and 40 per cent are cost-rental homes,” Mr Martin told the Dáil.
“Why did the Deputy not mention the 40 per cent social homes? Why did he not mention the 40 per cent cost-rental homes?
“Let us take the advertised prices and the Deputy’s figures of €400,000. The advertised prices are €264,000 for a one-bed home, €356,000 for a two-bed home and €399,000 for a three-bed home.
“Those prices are €100,000 lower than the market price at the moment, bear that in mind, because of schemes the Government introduced to support providers.
“Let us go further. Let us take the First Home scheme, the shared equity scheme, which Sinn Féin opposed.
“Anyone purchasing a home through that scheme can get up to €100,000, which brings the price down to €300,000.”
Mr Doherty disputed Mr Martin’s claims, accusing the Tánaiste of “misleading” the Dáil.
“He suggested that these houses will be sold for €270,000. It is a bloody plain lie,” Mr Doherty added.
Mr Martin rejected the accusation.
