Narrative that the Housing for All strategy is working is ‘irresponsible and harmfully misleading’

The President of the Fianna Fáil Tipperary Comhairle Dáil Cheantar has hit out at Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.

He said the narrative that the Housing for All strategy is working is widely “irresponsible and harmfully misleading” and said it would spell disaster for the party come the next election.

“The politicians are irresponsible for saying Housing For All is working,” said Mr Ryan.

Mr Ryan said the party’s inability to tackle the housing crisis will be their downfall. He pointed to poll statistics suggesting

Fianna Fáil is not popular among young votes and the core support is waning. Mr Ryan told the Tipperary Star that Fianna Fáil in the past led the way on housing, and the party needed to go back to its roots.

He said people needed to be able to stay in Ireland. They need to be afforded the opportunity to build lives and make homes. That people deserve that. He said he knows how to do it.

THE RYAN SCHEME

At a recent Housing for All conference, Mr Ryan presented the Minister and delegates with a copy of his alternative plan, The Ryan Scheme. In his presentation to delegates, he said Fianna Fáil supporting Fine Gael policy is what has led to the worsening crisis.

“The people of Ireland deserve a solution to this crisis, and there is one based on common sense, in the traditional way of Fianna Fáil, The Ryan System,” said Mr Ryan.

He believes his scheme would provide 20,000 social houses per year, 12,000 affordable rental homes and 30,000 first homes.

The Ryan Scheme, he said, is more cost-effective and in line with ESRI need projects. The scheme is modelled on the old Fianna Fáil schemes of the 1960s and 70s.

In an email this week to the members of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary party, Mr Ryan calls on them to act now.

“As members of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary, you are going to have to face reality that if our party is to survive into the future as a party of substance,” said Mr Ryan.

He is calling on Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill and others to support his proposal.

SUPPORT

Tipperarylive reached out to Jackie Cahill, who appears supportive of Mr Ryan’s work. He said he knows that Mr Ryan has been working on this plan for many years and is committed to helping find housing solutions.

“There are lots of positive points in the proposal,” said Mr Cahill.

He said Mr Ryan has put his plan into the Fianna Fáil “think tank” and it will be given consideration.

“I know there are points in there that the Minister will adapt and take on board,” said Mr Cahill.

However, he said that it should be acknowledged that the Minister for Housing has made progress.

The Deputy said the Minister inherited a crisis and has not only brought in measures, but adapted them where needed.

He said commencements have increased, derelict properties are coming back into use, and the removal of some levies will help developers to build more.

He said the Government has a lot of catching up to do, and there are improvements to the policy that can be made. Regarding Tipperary, the Deputy said he is coming across “significant issues the Government need to address”.

In Thurles he said some developers are having difficulty removing storm water from sites, while others are having difficulty acquiring finance. But Mr Cahill said he was confident that by 2025 we will see a significant improvement in social housing stock. And, all ideas are welcome.

The Tipperary Star reached out to the Department of Housing and the Minister’s office for comment. A spokesperson for the housing department replied:

“Minister O’Brien received the submission from Mr Ryan, thanked him for the proposal, and said he will give it consideration,” said Mr Cahill. Mr Ryan would like readers to know that he is available to answer questions from anyone willing to discuss his plan.