Housing deliver is key priority for Clarke

Cllr Michael Clarke has said the lack of housing is one of the main issues being raised on doorsteps in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency where is he a candidate for Independent Ireland. 

"I meet people every week that, given the housing situation in Ireland, will probably never own their own home. We, as a people cannot accept this, we must have an available pathway to every Irish citizen to be able to buy their own home.

"We have the fifth richest economy in the world but we cannot adequately house this generation of young Irish people. It’s not good enough that our political system has created this situation that our people can't aspire to own their own home."

Cllr Clarke, who was first elected to Sligo County Council in 2009 as an Independent councillor, says he is happy to now be part of Independent Ireland, an alliance of Independent TDs and councillors who will work together at local and national level. In the build-up to the general election, he has been working with Michael Fitzmaurice TD and Ciaran Mullooly MEP.

"We are determined to change things. The only way to address the housing crisis is to adopt a comprehensive plan that increases housing supply, reduces costs and improves access. We have created a detailed housing policy that you can find on the Independent Ireland website. I encourage you to read in full.

"By way of summary, firstly and importantly we need to declare a housing emergency.

"We will better incentivise vacant property development - there are 166,000 of those in the country; increase funding for community and social housing, reform mortgage lending and reduce VAT on building materials that will benefit everyone.

"We also need to totally reform and streamline the planning guidelines to speed up building and allow people to build on their own land."

Cllr Clarke said he has been working with builders and council officials for the last 15 years and wants to now bring that experience to Dáil Éireann.

"I have worked to deliver houses across Co Sligo in places like Mill View and St Farnans Drive in Dromore West, 77 houses at Seville on Finisklin Road, the Tannery at Cairns Hill in Sligo town and Connolly Park in Tubbercurry. I am also currently actively supporting development of a large number of houses in Ballisodare and Ballymote.

"As someone that can get things done, your support for me on election day will give me the ability to get this implemented at a national level to support the people of Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal."