Republican News · Thursday 25 April 2002

Plan aims for 7 out of 10 to be housed within two years

Sinn Féin TDs will want government funding to help local authorities reach targets of housing seven out of ten applicants on the waiting lists within two years, said Seán Crowe.

Sinn Féin has also called on the government to halt the sale of State land to private property speculators.

Crowe, a member of South Dublin County Council and a Dáil candidate in Dublin South-West, said the moves are part of Sinn Féin's Action Plan for Housing.

"The Government admits it has a housing crisis yet it continues to sell off hundreds of acres of State land to private property speculators while denying local authorities the opportunity and funding to buy these land banks," said Crowe

"Neither the recently resigned Housing Minister Bobby Molloy nor Environment Minister Noel Dempsey have shown the imagination to get to grips with the housing crisis. Sinn Féin's radical measures are needed to meet the housing needs of our people.

"The government's overreliance on the private property market is denying people the chance of a roof over their heads, a chance of a home of their own.

"People who need housing need action - and they need action now."