Families in Cork in 'in limbo': Call for swift publication of new housing plan

Families in Cork “cannot afford to be left in limbo” while government parties stall on housing solutions, a city councillor has said, calling for the swift publication of the Government’s new housing plan.

It had been expected the revised Housing for All plan would be published prior to the Dáil summer recess, but it was pushed back, reportedly until a review of the National Development Plan was completed.

At an event by Cork Simon last week, Cork TD and minister of state at the department of housing, Christopher O’Sullivan, said the department was “finalising” the new plan.

Labour Cork city councillor John Maher has called for it to be delivered urgently, telling The Echo: “Every week across Cork city, I hear from people living in housing insecurity, facing impossible rent, or unable to find affordable homes.

“The lack of urgency from government is appalling. Instead of targeted, costed measures, we get spin and excuses. Families in Glanmire, Ballyvolane, and Mayfield deserve better than the endless cycle of announcements and inaction.

“We need a strategy that directly addresses the shortage of skilled construction workers. The ESRI has warned this week that rising construction wages are increasing house prices, pushing home ownership further out of reach.

“The programme for government committed to 12,500 new apprentices per year by 2030, but with only 30,000 apprentices currently in the labour market, the Government must set out how this target will be met.

“Back in February, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council warned that more workers would be needed for house building, retrofitting, and infrastructure projects. The Government ignored it. Instead, they cling to private developers who routinely pause projects waiting for more subsidies. That approach is failing families in Cork, where demand is only growing. The truth is Ireland needs 300,000 new homes. Housing for All has failed.”