Pearse Doherty accuses the Deputy Prime Minister of “dishonesty” over the government’s housing policy

Cate McCurry, Pennsylvania

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has accused the Tánaiste of “complete dishonesty” over the Government’s housing policy after they fell out in the Dáil.

The Ceann Comhairle threatened to suspend the Dáil because Sinn Féin MPs and Micheál Martin disagreed with the Government’s housing program.

Sinn Féin has criticized the social housing scheme in Coolock, north Dublin, after it was revealed earlier this week that a three-bedroom house would cost €475,000.

Mr Doherty described house prices as “insane”.

He added: “Dublin City Council this week announced the prices at which what the Government describes as ‘affordable homes’ on Oscar Traynor Road will be sold.

“The figure of €400,000 is the lowest price people will pay for a three-bedroom house. The price will increase to 475,000 euros.

“A figure of up to €309,000 is the price people will have to pay for a one-bedroom house on Oscar Traynor Road in Coolock.

“The government calls it the affordable housing program. This is awesome. This is the Minister and Government’s idea of ​​affordability.

“It’s amazing and people will wonder if they live in a parallel universe.

The question is, how out of touch with reality can the government be if it thinks these prices are affordable?

“How can anyone disagree with a project offering a three-bedroom house priced between €400,000 and €475,000 and call it affordable?

“We warned the government that this plan would lead to homes being built that would be unaffordable and unaffordable for ordinary people, and we were right.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have refused to listen and look at where we are today.”

Martin accused Doherty of omitting details of housing policy, including the fact that the scheme approved by Dublin City Council was 20 per cent affordable homes, 40 per cent social homes and 40 per cent rental homes.

“Of the 853 homes we are talking about, 20 per cent are affordable homes, 40 per cent are social homes and 40 per cent are rental homes,” Martin told the Dáil.

“Why did the honourable Member not mention the 40% social housing? Why did he not mention the 40% cost of renting houses?

“Let’s take the advertised prices and the proxy’s figures of €400,000. The advertised prices are €264,000 for a one-bedroom house, €356,000 for a two-bedroom house and €399,000 for a three-bedroom house.

“These prices are currently €100,000 below the market price, this is important to bear in mind due to the programs the government has put in place to support service providers.

“Let’s go further. Take the First Home programme, the shared equity programme that Sinn Féin opposed.

“Anyone who buys a home under this scheme can receive up to €100,000, bringing the price down to €300,000.”

Mr Doherty disputed Mr Martin’s claims, accusing the Tánaiste of “misleading” the Dáil.

“He suggested that these houses would be sold for €270,000. That’s a damn straight lie,” Doherty added.

Martin denied the accusation.