Other News In Brief

Department Of Housing Falls 65% Short Of New Builds Target

The Department of Housing has met only 35% of its new build targets for 2018 at the end of Q3, a new report has revealed.

The target for new builds is 4,969, with only 1,764 of these homes delivered by the end of Q3.

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD raised his concern on the figures at the Oireachtas Housing Committee this morning, 12 December.

Deputy Ó Broin said: "It is extremely worrying that the new build delivery of social homes is so far behind schedule for 2018."

He also called on the Department to "stop including voids in the quarterly output report as they are not new additions to the social housing stock" after 605 voids were named in its output figures.

He continued: "Out of the target of 2,000 leased properties only 476 were delivered by Q3 of 2018. The Minister said today he wants to 'tweak' the leasing scheme.

"I would caution against offering any increased incentives to developers to participate in what is the privatisation of the delivery of social homes.

"The Minister should readjust these targets towards the build and acquisition of new homes."

Labour's Housing Spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan also called on the Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to explain the figures.

She said: "There is no realistic prospect of the full target of social housing being delivered by the end of the year. The Minister must explain to opposition parties, and the country, why less than half of the homes he committed to be built this year have been delivered so far.

"Given the scale of the crisis in front of us now, this really isn't acceptable.

"It is Minister Murphy who has repeatedly ignored calls for a rent freeze, he has refused to accept that the rent pressure zones are not working, and in the face of every recommendation by the opposition, he says that the primary focus must be on supply.

"The Minister seems unwilling to tackle rising rents and unable to deliver the supply he says is the best solution."

Tory Leadership Challenge Is The Latest Battle In An Internal Civil War - SF

The Tory leadership challenge is just the latest battle in an internal civil war that brought the chaos of Brexit in the first place, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Michelle O'Neill has said.

The Sinn Féin Vice President commented: "Brexit was conceived because of the Tory civil war. Brexit it is a disaster because of the Tory civil war and the leadership challenge is the latest battle in that same civil war.

"Regardless of who leads the British Government, they will always prioritise British interests first.

"For us, it is about working with the Dublin Government and the EU27, to prioritise Irish interests. We cannot allow Ireland or Irish interests to become collateral damage of infighting within a Tory party that cares nothing for our economy or our citizens.

"Mary Lou-McDonald and I will be meeting Simon Coveney today and that will be our message to the Irish Government. We must protect the Good Friday Agreement and protect the Backstop as our only insurance policy against a hard border in Ireland and the economic catastrophe that would bring."

Call For Backstop To Be Removed

DUP Leader Arlene Foster MLA has called for the backstop to be removed.

She said: "With London, Dublin and Brussels guaranteeing that no one will build a hard border between NI and RoI in any circumstances, there is no genuine need for the backstop.

"The electorate voted to leave the EU and that vote must be respected. People wanted Parliament to take back control of our money, laws and borders. The Prime Minister's flawed Withdrawal Agreement gifted control back to Brussels. That is why Parliament would have been right to reject it.

"It is not a case of repackaging or varnishing. Tinkering around the edges will not work. Assurances or reassurances are not what we are seeking. We want to see to see the Withdrawal Agreement fundamentally changed.

"The Prime Minister must stand up to the EU and robustly defend the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom."

(CD/CM)