Councillor slams his party’s record on housing

A long-serving Labour city councillor said his party’s record on social housing in Government was shameful.

Billy Cameron, a traditional socialist Labour Party member, said “I’m ashamed” that no social housing was built by the coalition government.

Councillor Cameron that “one of my major regrets of (Labour) taking part in Government is that we didn’t get a social housing programme”.

Councillor Cameron said that the party subsequently secured a commitment for a multi-billion-euro housing investment programme and it was now a matter of implementing that blueprint.

He made the comments during a debate on a motion calling on Government to release funds to build new social houses in Galway City, which was defeated.

Just four city councillors – the three from Sinn Féin and Mike Cubbard – backed Independent Collette Connolly, whose motion deplored successive governments for not investing any capital funds for social houses between 2009 and December 2015.

Councillor Connolly also called for the return of land purchased by the local authority and handed over to the State under the land acquisition scheme.

She said it was a “crying shame” that Government was relying totally on private sector to solve the housing crisis.

There are 4,600 households on the city’s housing waiting list, amounting to 15,000 people; and nationally there are some 90,000.

What was needed was a programme to begin development of social houses.

Labour’s Niall McNelis, whose colleague and deputy leader, Environment Minister Alan Kelly is responsible for housing objected and said €28 million had been pledged for social housing.

Independent Declan McDonnell wondered “what planet” Councillor McNelis was living on.

He said the housing shortage was so acute in Galway that it was actually worse than Dublin, proportionate to both cities’ populations.

Even allowing for the new houses that have been promised to be built, the city’s housing waiting list will swell to 6,000 households by 2018, he warned. Councillor McDonnell said there was “no money – not a bob” for the incoming government to spend on housing.

Sinn Féin Councillor Mairéad Farrell said it was an excellent motion and shocking that not a penny was spent on social housing since 2009. Her party colleague Cathal Ó Conchúir said social housing estates were built in the 1950s and 1970s when the country was suffering economically and the current recession shouldn’t be used as an excuse not to invest in a social housing programme now.

Mayor Frank Fahy said he was one of only three Councillors who objected to the transfers of lands some years ago under the land acquisition scheme, and “we’re still paying for it now”.

He said the average worker couldn’t afford the rents in Galway City. “Look at Daft.ie – a three-bed in the city is now €1,200-€1,300. There’s no way you could pay that.”

Director of Services Tom Connell said the Government has given approval for the Council to build 69 new social houses in Knocknacarra.

Councillor Connolly’s motion was defeated by 12 votes to five