The Taoiseach has acknowledged the need for the government to build more houses when it was attacked in the Dáil over the exodus of teachers from Dublin due to skyrocketing housing and fuel costs.
He replied Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, who said unions expressed concern about teachers “voting with their feet” because they cannot afford to live in the capital.
“A school in Stillorgan recently wrote to parents advising them that six of their teachers were moving outside of Dublin. Teachers’ unions are alarmed – they say teacher supply problems are exacerbated by teachers not being able to establish homes in the city.
“Teachers who commute (from outside) to Dublin are now considering working elsewhere due to rising fuel costs,” she said.
Schools are concerned as they struggle to get teachers in key subjects such as math and science, and many have been forced to consider asking unqualified teachers to teach Irish, she said.
“The situation has gotten so bad that some schools may need to consider canceling electives. So we now face the prospect of another serious problem rooted in the housing crisis.”
The Taoiseach agreed it was a housing issue but said progress was being made. The government’s housing policy is proving successful, he said, with an all-time record of 30,000 starts in the year to May.
The government had drawn up comprehensive plans – lacking the opposition’s housing policies “deep, broad or detailed.” he continued.
“We just need to build more houses, more apartments across the board. The goal is to get to 33,000-35,000 homes per year,” added Mr Martin.
This year was on track to complete about 24,600 new homes, the Taoiseach said.
About 22,000 homes were completed in the year to March, “the highest level of home completions in a 12-month period,” he said.
“Progress is being made,” the Taoiseach said. “In 2021, 43,000 building permits were issued. That is a sixfold increase from 2014 and the highest level since 2007.
“In the year to May 2022, more than 30,000 new homes were started, which is the highest number since records began.”
In the EU ranking, Ireland had gone from the third lowest completions per capita in 2013 to the fifth highest in 2020, he said. “Progress is being made, but it’s not enough to handle the huge demand out there. We are looking at all possible avenues to increase the housing supply and build the capacity of the industry.”
Ms. McDonald said the president had described the current crisis as a disaster. “I believe he has given a voice to the harsh reality facing people who are desperately struggling to get an affordable roof over their heads.
“Teachers are leaving and looking for work in other parts of the country because of extortionate prices and rising house prices. Schools find it very difficult to recruit replacements. If left unchecked, it will have major knock-on effects. It affects the ability of schools to perform, which in turn affects our children’s education.
“It ripples through everything. By the time a teacher pays the rent or the mortgage, much of their wages are gone.
“Life in this city has literally become unaffordable. We see that teachers are in an impossible situation and that is why they are now voting with their feet.”