New report important step in tackling housing supply and homelessness – Brophy

Fine Gael TD for Dublin South-West, Colm Brophy, says the new report from the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness is an important step in tackling the lack of housing supply and the increasing problem of homelessness. However Deputy Brophy has hit out at committee member Deputy Ruth Coppinger for her decision to walk away and introduce her own minority report.

“This Housing and Homelessness report is the work of all the members of the cross-party committee, which has been meeting for the past nine weeks and doing really positive work to find real solutions. It contains a number of key recommendations, which will hopefully make a real difference in solving the problems of housing supply and homelessness.

“One of the key recommendations is that local authorities provide 50,000 new social housing units by 2020 and that planning be fast tracked on key projects.

“This committee was a very real example of all members of the Oireachtas working together to come up with solutions to a huge and wide-ranging problem facing so many people in Ireland.

“I regret that Anti Austerity Alliance TD Ruth Coppinger has now chosen to step away from this process, by rejecting the report and introducing her own minority report. It is a pity that someone who worked with the committee on this, is now stepping away and playing politics with an issue that is having such a huge impact on people’s lives.”