12th May 2014: Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick put forward an emergency motion to Dublin City Council on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Group to reject the proposed cut to capital funding of almost 50% for council housing in Dublin City in 2015 and 2016. The motion was passed unanimously.
Cllr Fitzpatrick said “I put this emergency motion forward to Dublin City Council in response to the Government’s plan to cut capital funding for council housing by almost 50% in budget 2015 and budget 2016”. Cllr Fitzpatrick continued “With increases in those joining the housing list, rents rising and in the absence of a housing strategy this move by Minister Jan O’Sullivan, were it to go ahead, would drive people directly in to homelessness. Quite simply, there will be nowhere else for those without homes to go. There are 20,000 applicants on Dublin City Council’s housing list today, to put plans in place to cut council housing by almost 50% for the next two years is beyond reckless”.
“As a result of this motion, Dublin City Council will now call on Minister Jan O’Sullivan to meet with elected representatives of Dublin City to present her rationale behind this savage cut to funding and to deliver her plans for dealing with the growing housing crisis in Dublin” said Cllr Fitzpatrick.
