Sinn Féin councilor and general election candidate Joanna Byrne says voters face a clear choice in this election between a worsening housing crisis under the leadership of government parties or a determined Sinn Féin government to make changes.

Cllr Bryne’s comments follow the publication of the Department of Housing’s homeless figures, which reveal there are now 229 adults living in emergency accommodation in Louth and 252 in total in the North East . This does not include the 150 children who also have access to emergency accommodation.

Cllr Byrne said: “The housing crisis is devastating for the people of Louth. The latest figures from the Department of Housing show there are now 252 adults and 150 children living in emergency accommodation in the north east.

“We know that in reality the real number will be much higher, because these figures do not include people living with friends and emergency friends, nor people living in domestic violence shelters.

“Under this government, the number of homeless people in Louth has increased year on year. Rents are extremely high and people are struggling to save for a deposit as property prices become out of reach. This is the legacy of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in government.

Cllr Byrne said: “It is clear that voters face a clear choice in the general election: they can vote for a worsening housing crisis under Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, or for a Sinn government Féin who is making changes and committed to ending the housing crisis. .

“Ending the housing crisis would be the number one priority for a Sinn Féin government. We laid out in our plan, A Home of Your Own, how we would end the housing crisis and make the dream of homeownership within working people’s reach.

The Sinn Féin election candidate said: “Sinn Féin is committed to providing 300,000 new homes, private and public, affordable and for rent, over the life of the next government. We are committed to enabling people to build homes in their own communities.

“Our plan is fully costed, detailed and achievable. This would make a real difference to the people of Louth by allowing them to finally have a home of their own: a place to live and look to the future with hope.

“That’s why this election is a crucial opportunity to vote for a Sinn Féin government and vote to end the housing crisis.”