2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘Insulting' level in Cork of vacancy rates with 495 council houses currently empty
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould slammed the government for allowing public homes to lie empty during the current housing emergency.
'There is nothing more insulting to those impacted by the Housing Emergency than the sight of a perfectly good home left empty.
'Each of these homes should have a family living in them, children growing up in those four walls. Instead, these homes are empty, and children are growing up in hotels.
'That is beyond scandalous,' Mr Gould said.
The data was released to Sinn Féín by Cork City Council via Freedom of Information.
'Families in Cork are crying out for homes while perfectly good homes have been left to rot. We know that these cause dumping and anti-social behaviour.
'They stigmatise decent communities and for people in Cork they are a constant reminder of the government's failures,' he added.
The data also confirms that 150 council houses are currently vacant in Cork county, with 114 houses empty for up to 12 months.
99 homes have been vacant in Cork city for longer than two years.
'Cork City and County Councils should be funded to do their job. Instead, red-tape and bureaucracy coupled with underfunding leave homes empty for years in Cork.
'99 homes in Cork city have been empty for longer than 2 years. This is a scandal,' he added.
Mr Gould said a Sinn Féin government would 'not stop' until long-term vacancy in council homes is ended.
'I can guarantee that a Sinn Féin government would not stop until long-term vacancy in Council homes has been ended.
'We would cut the red tape and end the bureaucracy.
'We would do everything to ensure that nobody watches homes rot while they cannot access secure accommodation,' he concluded.
On June 21, members of the Raise the Roof campaign will take to the streets of Cork for a housing protest.
The Raise the Roof campaign includes a wide group of organisations including political parties, unions who represent older people, students, families and people with disabilities.
Protesters are asked to meet at the National Monument on Grand Parade at 2pm.
