He has said; 

“The shortage of rental properties and ever increasing cost of renting is a national issue with local implications. All of Dublin has felt the impact of rent increases. Councils will play a key role in the delivery of affordable homes in the next five years. Given its track record, Fine Gael cannot be trusted to deliver what is needed. 

“The walls are closing in on people who are not being served by the failed FG Rebuilding Ireland housing policy. The only winners right now are landlords who are capitalising on this government’s inability to end this crisis. 

“If Minster Murphy does not change tack immediately we will continue to see rents rise at speed and more families will enter homelessness. Fine Gael need to introduce a rent register and make the entire country a rent pressure zone at a bare minimum.   

“For three years the Labour Party has been campaigning for action to limit the reasons for evictions, cap rents and ensure transparency for renters so they know what the previous rent of a property was.

“The primary cause of homelessness is high rents and premature ending of tenancies. Rents have reached levels which makes hopes of security for families. In Dublin rents have increased by 7.1%. 

“This is a question of fairness. Beyond causing homelessness for thousands, those who are managing to rent are subject to grossly unfair rents.  Fine Gael won’t introduce rent caps, they won’t introduce a rent register; they won’t do anything of consequence to assist renters. Next week it’s time the government was send a clear message.”

Shane and the Labour Party support the Raise the Roof national rally for housing on Saturday 18^th May in Dublin. Now is the time for action.

The post Folan Says Action on Rent Needed Now first appeared on Shane Folan.

With over 10,ooo people homeless, many struggling to buy or rent, and colossal wait-times on the housing list, it’s clear that Fine Gael’s free-market approach isn’t working. Labour’s motion identifies how €16 billion can be made available to achieve this, without raising taxes, by financing it from the Rainy Day Fund and Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, alongside a commitment to allowing Credit Unions to invest in such a public housing fund. This will allow for the State to build 80,000 homes.

The motion also focuses on the thousands of homes that can be better insulated to help meet Ireland’s obligation to reduce carbon emissions, and to reduce fuel poverty.

Labour wants to return powers to local authorities through Housing Executives for the management, maintenance and development of housing at local government level.

Housing is the issue of our times and a central issue to my campaign. Everyone has a right to shelter and the State has failed to provide that. I strongly hope that our TDs will vote for this motion and encourage everyone to email their TDs to ask that they do.

The post Folan Supports Labour Motion to Build 80,000 Homes first appeared on Shane Folan.

Shane said: “The reports we have seen this week detailing the substandard building practices are very worrying. We cannot stand idly by while people are living in these dwellings”

He continued: “While I am glad that Clúid Housing are taking a positive approach to this where they are responsible, it is a sad state of affairs that it had to come to this.

“It is up to the property manager, to ensure that all of the blocks are fully compliant with Fire Safety standards, and address any discrepancies urgently.”

Shane Folan concluded: “The property management should engage with residents urgently in order to ease any worries they may have and address these problems immediately.”

The post Shane Folan Calls for Quick Resolution for Belmayne Apartment Residents first appeared on Shane Folan.