Concrete block levy plan 'flawed' - Clarke

Sinn Féin TD for Longford Westmeath Sorca Clarke has urged all TDs to back the party’s upcoming motion in the Dáil to scrap the government’s concrete block levy plans.

Speaking today, Deputy Clarke said:

“This evening, Sinn Féin are bringing forward a motion in the Dáil to scrap the government’s concrete block levy plans which are flawed and risk making the housing crisis in Longford Westemeath even worse.

“The scheme is badly designed and will mean that people living in homes with defects as well as first time buyers will see their house prices soar. The Society of Chartered Surveyors have warned that this scheme could see an eye-watering €4,000 added to the price of a house.

"It is totally unacceptable that these homeowners and buyers should be expected to foot the bill for the concrete blocks scandal. This is hitting ordinary people’s pockets, at a time when they are already struggling with sky high housing costs due to this government’s failure to tackle the growing housing crisis in Longford, Westmeath and across the state.

“Our motion calls for the government to hold those actually responsible for housing defects to account. It calls for a defects levy that instead focuses on the banks, the profits of big developers and those responsible for defects.

“I am urging all TDs to back our motion next week and stand with ordinary home owners and buyers to ensure that they are not subjected to the government’s deeply flawed and unfair scheme.”