Pearse Doherty accuses Tanaiste of ‘dishonesty’ over Government’s housing policy

Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty has accused the Tanaiste of being “completely dishonest” over the Government’s housing policy, after they went head to head in the Dail.

The Ceann Comhairle threatened to suspend the Dail, as Sinn Fein TDs and Micheal Martin disagreed with a Government housing scheme.

Sinn Fein 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 euro.

Mr Doherty described the house prices as “bonkers”.

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 euro is the lowest price people will pay for a three-bedroom home. The price will rise to 475,000 euro.

“The sum of up to 309,000 euro 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 euro and 475,000 euro 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 Fail 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% affordable homes, 40% social homes and 40% cost-rental homes.

“Of the 853 homes we are talking about 20% are affordable homes, 40% are social homes and 40% are cost-rental homes,” Mr Martin told the Dail.

“Why did the Deputy not mention the 40% social homes? Why did he not mention the 40% cost-rental homes?

“Let us take the advertised prices and the Deputy’s figures of 400,000 euro. The advertised prices are 264,000 euro for a one-bed home, 356,000 euro for a two-bed home and 399,000 euro for a three-bed home.

“Those prices are 100,000 euro lower than the marker 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 Fein opposed.

“Anyone purchasing a home through that scheme can get up to 100,000 euro, which brings the price down to 300,000 euro.”

Mr Doherty disputed Mr Martin’s claims, accusing the Tanaiste of “misleading” the House.

“He suggested that these houses will be sold for 270,000 euro.  It is a bloody plain lie,” Mr Doherty added.

Mr Martin rejected the accusation.