Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has today published a document entitled “In Their Words – The Humans of the Housing Crisis”.

The document details a snapshot of hundreds of submissions received by Teachta McDonald following the housing debate in the Dáil last week.

The Sinn Féin President called for people to tell their story via a Facebook post following the vote last Tuesday.

Teachta McDonald said:

“Fianna Fáil sat on their hands on the night of the no-confidence vote in the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy and backed the government. 

“Fine Gael in their arrogance continue to claim that their housing plan is working, despite all the evidence to the contrary. All of this, combined with the grubby deals that were done to save the government’s bacon, made me so angry that I decided to put out a call.

“I uploaded a video to my Facebook page asking for people to tell their story of the housing crisis. Nothing could have prepared me for the responses I received. The suffering, the hurt and the despair that is felt by people the length and breadth of the State is staggering.

“I received hundreds of messages and I have pledged to make their voices heard. That is why I am publishing this document and I have also given copies to Leo Varadkar, Eoghan Murphy and Micheál Martin. They need to see the consequences of their failed housing policies.

“There are solutions to this crisis – rent reduction alongside a rent freeze, a large-scale public housing build programme and legislation to clip the wings of vulture funds to name a few. It doesn’t have to be this way. People do not have to suffer. What is needed now is the political will to make a difference. It is time for the government to act.

“We will continue to listen and update this document as more submissions are received. Sinn Féin will continue to make people’s voices heard.”