Speaking today, Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis welcomed the start of construction of the development of 49 affordable homes in Poppintree.  Speaking after the sod turning ceremony to mark the start of construction, Deputy Ellis said:

“It is great to see this project starting especially by a housing body. Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance has committed to provide a fully integrated, mixed income, affordable, cooperative housing. I would welcome more opportunities for housing bodies to build in the city with the support of Local Authorities as it is an important contribution in solving our housing crisis.”

Dublin North West Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis has described today’s budget at mean and predictable.

Speaking from Leinster House today Deputy Ellis said;

“This budget is another missed opportunity to move towards a fairer society. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have forged this budget between them and it represents the failed politics of a failed class and a failed system.

“But it is also a mean budget, especially when you consider that politicians will be paid their increase in January, which I think they shouldn’t get, and pensioners will not see their increase until March leaving them without for three of the hardest months to heat a home.

“And it’s also a mean budget given the fact that unemployed people under the age of 25 have only received an increase from €2.70 and not the €5 that over 25’s are receiving.”

“We see this budget putting money into landlord’s pockets by increasing subsidies while the capital investment in social housing is severely lacking in money and vision.

“The only result of this first time buyer’s scheme will be to increase prices even higher and prevent people owning their homes.

Deputy Ellis said that there were important groups left out;

“I am disappointed that there is no direct intervention to help renters in this budget. So we now have people tonight paying rent which in some cases are nearly twice what a mortgage would cost and wondering how they are going to manage.

“The budget does not even touch on the issue of high rents. Once again vested interests have won out and society is the poorer.”