Affordable Homes Plan will deliver – Clarke

Sinn Féin’s €13bn Affordable Homes Plan will bring home ownership back into the reach of ordinary people in Longford-Westmeath, Deputy Sorca Clarke says.

The party says that if voted into government it would be able to deliver affordable homes, costing between €250,000 to €300,000 by separating the cost of land and site servicing from the cost of building the home.

This would be done by building affordable homes on state land, with the paying for the land and all related costs and retain ownership of the land.

The party estimates that the state would be contributing 20-33% of all-in development costs, so that homes are more affordable.

Deputy Clarke says that the plans “sets out how we will deliver genuinely affordable homes in Longford-Westmeath”.

“This would make a real difference to people in Longford-Westmeath who are hoping to finally have a home of their own.

“I know that across Longford-Westmeath so many people want to own their own place but have been priced out by years of bad policies by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that have fuelled the housing crisis.

“The policy Sinn Féin has published sets out how there is a better way, how people can have hope of owning their own home, and how when in government Sinn Féin would deliver genuinely affordable homes so that people currently priced out can finally own their own place at an affordable cost.

“In early September we will publish a comprehensive, detailed and fully costed alternative five year housing plan setting out how we would address the housing crisis in government.

“The recently launched document detailed how a Sinn Féin led Government would deliver 50,000 affordable homes to rent and buy across the state. The homes would be delivered by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and Community Housing Trusts. They would be for sale at prices from €250,000 to €300,000 and would be delivered in every county across the state including here in Longford-Westmeath.

“Our plan sets out an ambitious programme of state-funded affordable rental and purchase homes. It also shows that by the state providing or covering the cost of the land, site servicing and utility connections, and waiving development levies these homes can be sold to eligible purchasers for prices between €250,000 and €300,000.

“The affordable purchase homes will be available to single people and couples who earn up to €90,000 a year gross. The affordable rentals for people on net incomes of up to €66,000 in Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere.

“There is a growing number of people who are not eligible for social housing but who struggle or simply cannot afford to rent or buy on the private market. Our plan is to provide homes for these people at prices they can afford.

“Sinn Féin’s plan would make a real difference for people in Longford-Westmeath hoping to own their own home.”