Richard Boyd Barrett: 22 Social Homes Left Empty - Probe Urged
Richard Boyd Barrett alleges that 22 apartments, handed over for Part 5 social housing three years ago, have sat empty while families face homelessness. He has written to the CEO of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and is calling for an urgent investigation into the claim.
Immediate allegation
Richard Boyd Barrett says he received a credible tip-off that 22 apartments in an apartment complex on Slogan Road were delivered for Part 5 social housing three years ago but remain vacant. He describes the situation as scandalous given the ongoing housing crisis and widespread homelessness.
Request for inquiry
Barrett has written to the CEO of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown asking for the claim to be checked and pursued as a matter of urgency. He says he does not yet have full details but will follow up if more information is provided to him.
Local impact
Barrett highlights the contrast between empty units and families being sent from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown into homeless hostels in town, with thousands of people on housing lists waiting years. He frames the allegation as an example of failures in the delivery of social housing.
Next steps and consequences
The speaker urges immediate investigation and transparency from local authorities. He stresses that if the report is true it would be unacceptable and there can be no justification for leaving Part 5 homes empty while people remain homeless.
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It's an absolute scandal that we have tens of thousands of vacant properties in this country while people are facing homelessness and the effects of the housing crisis. But this week, and I'd like you to look into this, I have written to Dun Laoghaire down, I got a tip-off from a very credible source to the effect that there are 22 apartments in an apartment complex on the Slogan Road that were handed over for Part 5, as in social housing, three years ago but are sitting empty ever since. 22 apartments when there are families being sent from Dun Laoghaire down into homeless hostels in town when there's thousands of people on the housing list waiting years and yet if this report is true and it needs to be checked there are 22 apartments earmarked for social housing sitting empty in an apartment complex off the Slogan Road. So I'd like you to look into that as a matter of urgency. I've written to the CEO of Dun Laoghaire down but that kind of stuff just cannot go on. First of all I would agree with you if it's true it would be scandalous, unacceptable, but I don't have the details behind it and I don't know who gave you the tip-off but I certainly will if you can give me the details I'll certainly pursue it because there can be no justification for that.
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