Sinn Féin’s systematic & ideological opposition to home construction is surreal – Farrellalan

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has made it very clear her party’s representatives have systematically objected to almost 12,000 Dublin homes as it does not suit their ideological agenda, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Alan Farrell, who represents Dublin Fingal, said it is quite transparent now that Sinn Féin’s ideological objection to home delivery is harming the very significant efforts to providing housing to our citizens.

Deputy Farrell was speaking after the Sinn Féin leader confirmed her own personal opposition to more than 2,000 homes in three separate developments in her own constituency of Dublin Central on The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One.

“Perfection is sought across a range of issues effecting Irish life but when it comes providing housing, we simply cannot wait for perfection,” Deputy Farrell said.

“Perfection, in housing terms, is the enemy of delivery. Are Sinn Fein being honest with the electorate? Do they really want to solve the housing crisis, or do they wish to perpetuate it for their own political gain?

“Since 2018, Sinn Féin representatives have objected to, voted against, or attempted to hinder at least 11,687 homes from being built in the capital, since 2018. More than 5,000 of these were in the Dublin City Council area alone in the last three years.

“Their opposition to home construction is surreal – at least 11,687 homes voted against, objected to or hindered by Sinn Féin. Why so? They must explain it. What have they got against homes being built and developed? It is clearly an ideological position to take.

“Every one of these units would represent a home for families and individuals.  If Sinn Fein were honest about their desire to solve the housing crisis, they would not be objecting to housing developments at such a rate, which in the current climate could only be viewed as a deliberate action to contribute to the problem of supply.

“They objected to the Build to Rent homes in Dublin, but not in Belfast. Why?

“We must also remember this is the party whose American fundraising wing gladly charges $7,500 for a round of golf and $1,000 for dinner from construction companies and developers across the US.

“Mary Lou McDonald’s party are being entirely disingenuous, misleading, and populist on this issue.

“They say they have all the answers and would build homes but in reality, they set out to block home delivery across Dublin through every tool available to them – council votes, planning appeals to An Bord Pleanála and submissions to local authorities,” Deputy Farrell said.