All Parties Must Work Together To Tackle Homelessness - SF

All parties in the Dáil have been urged to work together to produce emergency measures to tackle homelessness, Sinn Féin's Dessie Ellis has said.

Deputy Ellis made the call while attending a forum on housing and homelessness organised by the Department of Environment today.

"The election did not produce an clear government formation but the housing and homelessness crisis rages on regardless. Public representatives have a responsibility to work together in this period of uncertainty to provide solutions," Deputy Ellis said.

"In recent weeks more families have become homeless and others have received eviction notices. Mortgage distress continues to be a major problem.

"All parties in the election said they would address this crisis. We must now work to address it together in absence of a new government.

"However, the proposals put forward by Fine Gael this week as a basis for negotiation for government leave a lot to be desired and show that that party has not learned the lessons of the past.

"Tax incentives for developers and a sole focus on the private sector are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

"We need major social housing investment, controls on rent, new protections for the family home for tenants and mortgage holders and a cap on variable mortgage interest rates.

"Sinn Féin have made clear our desire to tackle the crisis and will consider all positive and progressive measures."

(MH/LM)