The Government's "extravagant" claims of record housing output cannot mask the fact that it has failed to meet "virtually every one"of the targets it set for itself in the housing sector, the Labour Party has said.
Eamon Gilmore
The party's environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore criticised Minister of State for Housing Noel Ahern for "boasting" of the Government's "so-called" achievements but said they were of little consolation to the 44,000 families who remail on local authority lists.
Mr Ahern said today that the social housing needs of almost 13,000 households were met in 2005.
"The target under the National Development Plan was for the construction of 35,000 local authority houses between 2000 and 2006. They have built just 22,500, less than two thirds of their own target," Mr Gilmore said.
He added that a National Economic and Social Council report had estimated that between 10,000 and 11,000 housing units would be needed each year.
Under this government we are providing just about 6,500 per year," Mr Gilmore said.
He also claimed the voluntary housing sector was providing just 1,400 housing units a year instead of the 4,000 target because of "obstructions" placed in its way by the Government.
"Part V of the Planning and Development Act, which came into operation in 2001, and which was supposed to ensure delivery of affordable and social housing, should have delivered some 30,000 units. Instead just about 2,000 have been delivered.
"Local authority housing lists have shown some small decline in numbers over the past year, but this is because the manner in which the figures are being compiled has changed and not as a result of any reduction in demand."
"The reality of the record of this Fianna Fail/PD government after almost nine years in office is that there are more people than ever on local authority waiting lists; fewer people than ever can afford to buy their own homes; and more families than ever are caught in the poverty trap of the rent allowance system."
The Government yesterday claimed the construction of local authority housing has reached a 20-year high, with 10,000 social and affordable units built last year.
However, the total figure accounts for less than 12 per cent of the 81,000 apartments and houses built in the country last year.