The housing crisis has caused misery for countless people across Ballyfermot and Drimnagh. Many are stuck paying exorbitant rents, unable to save for a home deposit. Some remain living with family, delaying their independence longer than desired.

Some remain dependent on family longer than planned, while others contemplate leaving Ireland due to uncertain prospects.

Every person deserves the right to a stable and affordable home. A shift in government leadership is necessary to untangle and reverse years of ineffective housing policies.

A Sinn Féin government would take a different approach to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. We set out in our 2024 Alternative Budget that a Sinn Féin government would deliver greater investment, increase targets to match demand, cut out red tape which is resulting in delays of up to 2 years before a brick is laid, use new technology to build, speed up planning and introduce changes to tax code to incentivise building of affordable homes.

A team of Sinn Féin councillors will work hard on the council to tackle the housing crisis too. We'd work to deliver affordable purchase homes through Local Councils and Approved Housing Bodies at prices people can genuinely afford. Local councils and Approved Housing Bodies will deliver the new affordable homes in Sinn Féin’s government plan, on public land.

In my constituency, I've received numerous complaints from constituents about issues like mould growth, dampness, and inadequate ventilation in their homes, especially in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, leaks, and poorly ventilated rooms. Most of these complaints were from families with young children and elderly individuals. Many families expressed frustration over the prolonged duration taken by the Dublin City Council to address these repair issues.

Sinn Féin has proposed significant increases in Government funding for Councils to maintain, refurbish and retrofit Council homes. This includes a specific fund for local authorities to respond proactively to maintenance issues including windows and doors, damp, mould, and leaks. Too often, a small leak becomes a huge problem because it is left for too long. We would work towards every local authority producing a preventative maintenance plan. We would also introduce a regeneration scheme for apartments and flats that are past their lifespan.

People should not have to live in damp, mouldy or unmaintained homes. We would prioritise those homes in greatest need of repair and reduce waiting lists for basic maintenance. 

Dublin boasts the potential to be an appealing city for residents, employees, and tourists. Yet, there's significant room for improvement in maintaining cleanliness, particularly on our streets. I fully support the proposal to return bin services to public ownership and to enhance public waste services, which should include expanding both bins and recycling facilities.

Furthermore, I advocate for initiatives to raise public awareness, utilizing platforms such as community events and social media, to educate people about responsible waste disposal and pet ownership.

Additionally, it's crucial to increase waste bin coverage by installing additional bins in busy areas and ensuring regular maintenance to prevent overflow.

There is an alarming abundance of vacant and derelict properties in our capital city, including the areas of Ballyfermot and Drimnagh. Many of these homes have remained unoccupied for years, with some deteriorating into dereliction, which adds to the issues confronting our communities, as it increases the likelihood of illegal dumping and contributes to the proliferation of rats.

Sinn Féin would encourage local authorities to Compulsory Purchase, where practical, and return to use derelict properties alongside increased utilisation of the Buy and Renew scheme. We would also request monthly updates to increase the collection of the Derelict Sites Levy and to speed up the return of vacant social homes.

Every community should have the right to safety and protection. Nonetheless, a considerable number of residents in our capital city feel unsafe. Sinn Féin has presented our plans to invest in the Gardaí, to deploy more police officers on our streets to protect the communities.

We would introduce a public transport policing unit to ensure people can feel safe while using public transport. We would get to grips with the recruitment and retention crisis in the Gardaí to end the huge numbers resigning.

Ensuring road safety and accessible transportation are fundamental to enabling people to live, work, and enjoy their communities securely. 2023 witnessed the highest road fatality rates in nearly a decade, with Dublin ranking as the poorest among 30 European cities in public transport. It's time for change.

We recognise that many children cannot safely access school without relying on a lift from parents. This can be a barrier to parents, but it also reduces young people’s independence.

Encouraging more active modes of transportation, like cycling and walking, will play a pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis. To make this feasible, individuals must have confidence in their safety while doing so.

We support auditing all footpaths and putting in place a programme of footpath restoration so everyone can walk and move around their local area confidently.

I am committed to speaking up for a society that is fair, inclusive, and embraces diversity. It is crucial that all members of our communities feel safe and welcomed. Arson attacks against accommodation for asylum seekers have no tolerance in our society, and I strongly condemn these actions.