More than 12 people slept in their cars overnight in bid to buy a new home in Kildare

It is utterly shameful that people feel the need to sleep in their cars overnight to have any chance of buying a new home, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.

Deputy Farrelly, who represents Kildare North, said: “More than a dozen first-time buyers slept in their cars last night in the hope of securing one of the 30 properties going on sale at the Harpur Lane development in Leixlip this weekend. Even more cars arrived today as prospective buyers joined the queue ahead of tomorrow’s viewings.

“Unfortunately, many of them will be left disappointed with all homes expected to be sold within the first hour.

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“However, this is the level of desperation that people feel when trying to buy a home in Ireland.

“It is a damning indictment of failed housing policy by successive governments, which has resulted in a chronic undersupply of homes.

“Some of the houses in this development cost close to or above the half a million-euro mark, yet the queues we are witnessing here today show the pent-up demand that exists – even for homes that are not affordable.

“These are the very real consequences of the last government not coming even close to meeting their own exaggerated housing targets.”