The Green Party has criticised the Government for putting airport expansion plans ahead of tackling homelessness. The Green Party's Dublin candidate in the forthcoming European Elections Ciaran Cuffe said it was unacceptable that homeless figures were rising due to a lack of investment in housing, while the Dublin Airport Authority is seeking funds from the European Investment Bank to help with their expansion plans.

Mr. Cuffe said: "In other countries such as Spain, cities have been able to obtain funding for public housing directly from the European Investment Bank whereas in Ireland Local Authorities are not given the powers to do this by Central Government. Instead, the Government is allowing a semi-state company the Dublin Airport Authority to apply for hundreds of millions of euro to expand the airport and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

"We should be spending this money on upgrading homes to reduce fuel poverty and reduce emissions, as well as on building new homes for those without a roof over their heads.  How can the Government talk about addressing homelessness and climate change when their investment priorities are at odds with this?

“Only yesterday we heard thatDublin City Council cannot afford to purchase 'Part V' housing units in newdevelopments in Dublin's Docklands. This is gentrifying our city by displacingthose in need of housing to the periphery. This is unacceptable.

“Roughly one third of alltenancies are now state-assisted, with the cost to the taxpayer likely to hit€1billion this year. In 2022 this figure is to hit €1.7bl according to theDepartment of Public Expenditure and Reform. This is the cost of one children’shospital a year pumped into the private rental sector, inflating rents andgoing to landlords’ pockets.  

“Rather than building, Governmentis counting properties leased from developers over 25 years with a 5.5% profitmargin as social housing. Last Sunday we learnt the Government is using €140million from the State’s Strategic Investment Fund to further invest in theprivate rental sector.

ENDS

Issued and published 1^stMay 2019