Carol Nolan warns Government has lost control of housing crisis
Carol Nolan criticised the Government's handling of housing in a parliamentary speech, citing severe rental shortages across counties including Offaly, Tullamore, Barr and Leash. She said the Government has lost all control of housing, called the policy failed and failing and urged more affordable housing schemes and fairness between landlords and tenants.
Local housing shortages
Carol Nolan detailed acute local shortages, stating there are just 11 homes in the entire county of Offaly and that in Tullamore, a town of about 14,600 people, there are only three houses to rent. She said Barr, with a population of almost 6,000, likewise has just three rental properties and that the neighbouring county Leash, with a population of 85,000, has only 14 properties available.
Assessment of Government policy
She said by any reasonable metric the situation demonstrates a failed and failing housing policy and argued that the Government has lost all control of housing. Nolan criticised the Government for not being proactive in addressing the shortages.
Calls for more affordable schemes
Nolan called for more affordable housing schemes to be built rather than sporadic high-profile announcements, saying there is too much emphasis on fanfare around single schemes every two years. She warned that young couples are being locked out of the market and that the Government has a lot of catching up to do on affordable housing provision.
Fairness for landlords and tenants
She urged balance and fairness for both landlords and tenants, noting that some landlords have had properties destroyed and emphasising there are both good and bad tenants and good and bad landlords. Nolan said policy responses should reflect that complexity and aim for fairness for all parties involved.
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This motion makes it very clear that the Government has lost all control of housing. In my own county of Offaly, there are just 11 homes in the entire county and most of those are outside the reach of what most people and indeed families can afford. In a town the size of Tullamore with a population of approximately 14,600 people, there are just three houses to rent at present. In Barr, where there is a population of almost 6,000, there are likewise just three properties to rent. People are in desperate need and indeed the same is true in neighbouring county Leash, where there is a population of 85,000 people and yet just 14 properties in the entire county. By any reasonable metric, this is the measure of a failed and failing housing policy. Government have lost all control, I feel that they have not been proactive and I do feel that certainly in terms of housing schemes we need to see more of those being built and not just big fanfare when there is one every two years, one housing scheme and a big fanfare. Government has a lot of catching up to do in terms of affordable housing schemes because young couples are locked out of the market. I also want to say that there should be balance in terms of fairness for landlords and tenants because I do know of landlords who have had their properties destroyed as well. You have good tenants and you have good landlords, you have bad tenants and bad landlords and I think that that is an issue. Also there needs to be balance in fairness. Thanks. Thanks.
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