Dublin Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Call for action as Dún Laoghaire Rathdown unemployment doubles in past year

Published: 3 April, 2009

South Dublin Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey has called on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to embark on a new social housing building programme to tackle its chronic unemployment and housing crises. Mr. Tracey was speaking today as figures from the Central Statistics Office revealed that unemployment in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown has more than doubled in the past year.

He said, "Figures out today show that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown's unemployment is increasing at a higher rate than the national average having more than doubled from 3,000 in March 2008 to 6,289 last month. This Council also has one of the worst records in the whole state for the provision of social housing with 2,461 families currently on the waiting list and more expected as a result of growing unemployment.

"In fact housing is the number one issue that constituents have been bringing up on the doors here in the Glencullen/Sandyford ward. Many families are living three generations to a house in overcrowded and unsuitable conditions as a result of this councils neglect of the housing needs of its people.

"Sinn Féin has called on the Government to invest in labour intensive critical public infrastructure projects to boost employment in the construction sector, provide ever more needed public infrastructure and services and to attract investment.

"Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council should embark on a new social housing building programme to tackle its chronic unemployment and housing crises. Sinn Féin has proposed the establishment of high level task force of council officials, voluntary sector providers and councillors to bring forward detailed proposals to the Housing Strategic Policy Committee at the soonest possible date. We have set a target of a minimum 500 houses to be added to the councils stock each year for the next four years." ENDS