Horan slams Government strategy on housing

Aontú candidate in the Swinford electoral area, Tommy Horan, has expressed concern over the Government's policy to house international protection applicants. 

"The lack of consultation with communities is causing major problems," he remarked. "The Government circumvention means local communities are kept in the dark with no voice. It allows wealthy accommodation owners to reap extortionate money from the taxpayer while disregarding local communities.

"The circumvention of planning laws for international protection (IPAS) centres must be reversed. The government parties have treated local people with contempt. I will be transparent and honest. I will communicate openly and honestly with the constituents concerning Government plans for IPAS accommodation centres. I will fight for the people’s right to have a say over our communities.

"Incredibly, the Government seeks to pitch asylum seekers against the local population on the limited space in the private rental housing market. This plan is a threat to integration and cohesion. It will fuel disaffection in society. The state is already occupying a huge space in the market through the HAP and RAS schemes. There are barely any private rental properties available. More young adults are currently living with their parents than ever before.

"The lack of social housing, and the lack of private rentals, is causing huge problems, not least the rent inflation we're currently seeing. If the Government begins to occupy private rentals, then things will get much worse. We know from data released by the Minister for Children to Aontú, that the 37 properties which they purchased specifically for the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers are still empty, up to two years after they were purchased."

Mr Horan said his party leader Peadar Toibin had obtained data under the Freedom of Information Act that showed that there were 3,500 empty local authority homes at the moment. 

"We found out that it takes eight months to turn around a local authority home as opposed to three weeks to turn around a private home for re-rent. This is a damning situation in a housing crisis. The HSE is sitting on 400 empty buildings. The Office of Public Works have admitted to Deputy Toibin that they are sitting on 65 ‘surplus’ properties currently listed as ‘vacant’. Eighteen of these are OPW residential homes. Some of these buildings are empty for nearly 50 years.

"The Government is paying €250,000 a year on security for empty buildings in its possession. The State is the biggest hoarder of empty homes in the country. This Government is completely and utterly incompetent when it comes to housing and accommodation.

"The huge housing crisis across Ireland is very much felt in Charlestown, Swinford, Kiltimagh and Foxford just as much as anywhere else. "There are national factors to that which we are lobbying but there are also local factors which amplify this problem. Mayo County Council has among the strictest planning laws in Ireland. Many people I speak to feel that planners exist just to stop people living in or near the area they grew up in. There are far too many examples of young people being denied planning permission for simply trying to build a house on their parents’ land to save money and be closer to their community. This needs to stop. If laws and services only exist to serve systems and not people, then we need a radical overhaul of planning laws.

"I will campaign to deliver more social, affordable and private housing for Mayo. There are over 2,500 people on the waiting list in Mayo yet there are 65 vacant homes owned by Mayo County Council. The Mayo county councillors are not showing the level of urgency those on the waiting list are feeling. I will fight for faster turnaround times and that vacant council-owned properties are quickly brought back to life. I will also fight for a far more efficient planning process and one that will bring an end to An Bord Pleanála's long delays.