Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, leader of the Fianna Fáil Group on Dublin City Council (DCC) has today expressed her disbelief at the Government decision to cut the capital investment budget for the provision of council housing in Dublin City by almost 50% in 2015.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said “With 20,000 applicants on Dublin City Council’s housing list this decision makes absolutely no sense.  In effect it means tens of thousands of individuals are being left high and dry and exposes the emptiness of Government “commitments” to end homelessness.   I will put forward an emergency motion to the final meeting of Dublin City Council on Monday to reject this proposed cut in funding to social housing in Dublin City, call on the Government to immediately reverse the cut and to provide adequate funding for a major house building programme.”

Cllr Fitzpatrick stated “This is a disgraceful situation that will cause more problems than solutions. I am calling on Minister for Housing Jan O’Sullivan to publicly explain the rationale behind the decision to cut funding to the provision of council housing in a time when demand for these properties is rising.  Where does she expect these people to go?”.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said “Dublin City Council is the state’s largest housing provider with €80 million being spent on social housing in 2014, that amount is to drop to €44.5 million in 2015, with a similar allocation in 2016, despite the growing numbers of people waiting for council houses. This decision will have a major impact on Dublin City pushing people into homelessness, it must be reversed”.