Local TD’s must explain ‘shameful’ decision to end eviction ban- Pat Buckley TD

Sinn Féin TD for Cork East Pat Buckley has criticised local government TDs for their ‘shameful’ decision to end the eviction ban.

The government decided to end the ban, which had been protecting people from ‘no fault’ evictions which could plunge them into homelessness in a matter of weeks.

Speaking today, Teachta Buckley said:

“The government’s decision to end the eviction ban is shameful and will plunge people into homelessness in Cork.

“The housing crisis is devastating lives across Cork as people cannot afford sky high rents or find suitable accommodation because of this government’s failure to get to grips with the crisis.

“Government TDs in my Constituency must come forward and explain to people in Cork why they have backed ending the eviction ban. They need to be upfront with people about this shocking decision.

“From April, people across Cork  will face the prospect of losing their home because of this disgraceful decision. This includes single people, couples, parents with children and pensioners who have been badly let down by this government and deserve better.

“The government had a choice. When the emergency ban on evictions was introduced last October, Sinn Féin urged the government that it wasn’t a solution but a temporary opportunity for the breathing space in order to take emergency action needed. We urged them to expand the tenant in situ scheme, to extend it to affordable cost rental, to use emergency planning and procurement powers, to target vacant and derelict properties and new building technologies, to increase and accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes.

“Shockingly, the government ignored these solutions and instead ended the ban without addressing these issues.

“It is clear that the housing market in Cork is totally unfit for purpose and ordinary people are left to pay the price. Year after year, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have missed their own inadequate public housing targets. The result is clear to see in Cork as we have generations locked out of home ownership, crippled by sky high rents, languishing on social housing waiting lists and being forced to emigrate.

“The housing crisis is causing misery for so many people in Cork. These government TDs must explain why they are continuing to ignore the solutions and fail to tackle the housing crisis.

“Sinn Féin in government would tackle the housing crisis to make sure that action is taken to deliver the change needed. Sinn Féin has the detailed, deliverable proposals to get to grips with the housing crisis and deliver genuinely affordable homes for people in Cork”