Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has acknowledged that the Government missed their social housing targets for 2022.
Speaking in the Dáil earlier, Varadkar said that only 6,500 social homes were provided in 2022, which was below the revised target of 8,000.
“We did miss the social housing target last year, 6,500 new social homes were provided,” said Varadkar, following questioning by co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine Murphy.
Last week it was reported that the Government had missed their 2022 social housing targets, according to a ministerial briefing document from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).
However, a spokesperson for the Housing Minister said that preliminary figures on social housing delivery will be “considerably higher” than figures released by DPER.
Varadkar said that Murphy did not acknowledge that the number of social homes built in 2022 were the highest provided “in a very long time”.
However, The Journal yesterday examined claims that more housing had been built last year than ever before and found that the claim was unproven.
He added that the housing crisis remained the biggest social issue facing the Government.
“It [the housing crisis] affects people in so many different ways and is holding us back as a country and holding us back as an economy and a society as well in my view,” said Varadkar.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis was also raised during Leaders’ Questions this afternoon, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calling on the Government to ensure that there was no “cliff-edge” to supports.
Varadkar confirmed that while there would be no cliff edge for supports, he said that it would not be possible for the Government to retain all of the measures they had introduced.
Currently, some specific cost-of-living supports are due to expire at the end of February.
“We’re not going to be able to continue everything, we just don’t have the resources to do so but there isn’t going to be a cliff edge,” Varadkar said.
In response, Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar says there won't be a "cliff edge" for supports when they are due to run out in February and that some will continue
— Tadgh McNally (@TadghMcN) January 25, 2023
He adds that not all supports will be renewed, saying that "we just don't have the resources to do so" pic.twitter.com/4zcEndIcgS
“What will happen over the course of the next few weeks is the relevant ministers will sit down with the Minister for Public Expenditure and the Minister for Finance and we’ll work out which measures we can continue and which ones we can’t.
“We will try and do that as quickly as possible in the next couple of weeks so that people have certainty long before the end of February.”
McDonald also called for the Government to examine introducing “targeted, tailored and time-bound” mortgage relief.
While Varadkar did not address mortgage relief, he confirmed that the rent credit introduced in Budget 2023 would be made permanent.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Red Light cameras and penalty points . It’s the only solution.
@KevJ:
It’s gone to the stage now Gardai are coming across drivers who in a previous Court have been put off the road but are back driving with no Insurance . So how do the Courts deal with these off the road drivers It’s pointless to issue another ban as they will continue to drive.
@Alan Scott: Caught with no licence should be .. Large fine, size car, crush car, 6 months in Jail.
@Alan Scott: take their thumbs!
@Stephen Devlin: Don’t crush the car. Sell it.
@Alan Scott: Charge them with contempt of court. Your breaching a court order.
Headline- truck hits Luas
Article- car hits Luas
Dopes
@Art Attack Head:
but it typical style the headline of the article is changes with no reference to the fact.
@Art Attack Head: I have read the article twice and see no mention of a car ?
@Peter donnelly: read it 6 more times
I see these idiots everyday going through the reds in Tallaght and now lots of people are late for work and other appointments The Gardai need to man these trouble spot lights in a unmarked Garda car they won’t have long to wait. I hope there has been no injuries.
@Alan Scott: Any now people have to fork out ridiculous money for Taxi’s >:-(
@Alan Scott: Some of the idiots are in South Dublin County Council. The general design of traffic lights and “pedestrian crossings on roundabouts” is a joke. A lot of drivers are misled with the lights at the junction turning into Cookstown because they don’t see the big iron horse coming up on their right. The flimsy green light encourages anyone waiting at the lights to proceed across the tracks when the light turns green. I even made a little drawing here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1383120911753317&set=p.1383120911753317&type=3&theater
Is there ever a whole day during which there is no disruption to the Luas?
@Neal Ireland Hello.: Yeah, plenty.
Will be some amount of Luas Vs. Car collisions each day now that the cross city service will operate and Dublin city council are allowing private cars and other vehicles on the Quays..!
South Dublin County Council Roads have a policy, if they make a mistake in the design of traffic lights (like at old Mill and Spawell) and anyone expresses an opinion then you are wasting your time – “we are always right and we don’t care what you think”
The only good thing about the design of traffic lights at this junction is that they are located close to the Emergency Services and A&E of Tallaght hospital. You want to turn right across the tracks into Cookstown for example. You drive up and the lights are red. When lights go green and there is nothing coming towards you some cars just then turn right, not seeing the Luas coming up behind them. Yes, there is a filter arrow/light but what is needed is a big sign on the lights saying “Turn right on filter green light only” There is absolutely no doubt that this would save lives but will South Dublin County Council bother?
Car or truck, how stupid do you have to be to crash into a LUAS tram?
@Jayo Breathneach: This type of red light breaking is down to Garda bosses been to soft. Anyone caught breaking a red should be charged with dangerous driving fined a thousand euro and put off the road
@Alan Scott: Trolley Buses would have been a better solution to trams as they allow that bit more flexibility to avoid stupid drivers.
Claim
“One person on the Luas was injured and was taken to Tallaght Hospital where their injuries are not believed to be serious.”
ot serious but gonna be very expensive.
The duration of the orange/amber traffic light is too short.
A longer duration, even of half a second longer would allow for more traffic to stop on time.
Traffic lights are microprocessor controller and can be timed to the microsecond.
And as per usual Minister Ross is too busy hobnobbing it garbed in his feather boa to sort out the mess that is the transport infrastructure. Shame on him!
Headline and article states passengers were hospitalised. Gardai say ONE passenger injured and taken to hospital. Dublin Fire Brigade say 5 fire engines sent to scene with ambulances also attending. A whole area of the west city without tram service.
Fake news or irresponsible reporting?
You wanted cheap drivers, you got cheap drivers. Stop bitching and enjoy your the increase in your premiums.
How many times in an article do they have to repeat the same thing it does my head in
One idiot f*cking up everyone else’s morning
Didn’t ruin the injured persons morning. They will no doubt suffer from post traumatic stress disorder along with some soft tissue damage and get awarded a nice few quid
Insurance premiums will go up again. Good opportunity to have fake neck injury.
According to the passengers, it was the Luas that hit the truck that was stationery in the middle of the road and dragged it for a distance.
have your say