Mattie McGrath: Tipperary Left Out of Housing for All Plan
Mattie McGrath criticised the Hugh Government's Housing for All plan, saying it estimates 7,550 affordable homes before 2026 but will build none in Tipperary, and called the scheme a "shambles" and an "insult" to those begging. He urged the minister to meet a deputation of Oireachtas members for Tipperary, pointing to full emergency accommodation and an acute rural housing crisis.
Main criticism
The deputy said the Housing for All plan is inappropriately named, citing the government's estimate that 7,550 affordable houses will be built before 2026 using state-owned land while "not one single house will be built in Tipperary." He described the plan as a shambles and an insult to people seeking homes.
Local impact in Tipperary
McGrath detailed an "acute crisis" across Tipperary, naming areas from Cardigan Shoe to Monagol, and said his office and others are inundated with cases. He noted emergency accommodation is full and described people being unable to get local authority assistance until they are evicted.
Calls for a ministerial meeting
The deputy reported that Reverend Michael Toomey has written to the minister and asked that the minister meet a deputation of Oireachtas members for Tipperary, arguing the current arrangements are unfair and unjust.
Government response in debate
A respondent in the debate defended the Housing for All strategy as the most comprehensive and substantive policy in some time, saying it is backed by resources of 4 billion per annum. The respondent also pointed to a strong pipeline of social housing this year and to a range of affordable home schemes, and said the minister is in touch with Tipperary Deputies on housing issues.
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Teachta, Hugh Government's Housing for All plan is so inappropriately named, but it estimates that 7,550 affordable houses will be built before 2026 using state-owned land. Not one single house will be built in Tipperary. We have an acute crisis in Tipperary, from Cardigan Shoe right up to Monagol. Teachta, my office is inundated, everybody's office. In fact, Reverend Michael Toomey was around the way this morning and he's written to Minister O'Brien. And I'm asking you now to ask Minister O'Brien to meet a deputation of the Oireachtas members for Tipperary because this is unfair, unjust, and you call it Housing for All. It's a shambles. Even all the emergency accommodations are full and people won't be made at home, won't be entertained by the council, can't be until they're evicted. And then there's a crisis every hour of every day. It's simply unbelievable in a rural county and that's the way it is. So the plan, you should rename the plan because it's certainly not Housing for All. It's such an inappropriate name. It's an insult to the people who are begging. There was a man outside the gate last week from Bandon and West Cork singing Home for All and I salute him. Thank you, Deputy. The time is up. Well, again, I would say to the Deputy that the Housing for All strategy is the most comprehensive and substantive policy that has been outlined in quite some time, backed up by resources of 4 billion per annum. No, I don't know, you know, maybe you might check and I'll check to see what the situation is in relation to Tipperary County Council engaging with the Minister in respect of affordable housing in particular. There is social housing which is a strong pipeline this year because of the focus we've put on that, but there's also provision for a wide range of affordable home schemes as well. And again, no issue in working with the Deputy and other Deputies because the Minister is in touch with all of the Deputies from Tipperary on a consistent basis on housing issues. Thank you. To the CD from Lien. Do you think we are allpannt?
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