GOVERNMENT is presiding over a three-pronged crisis with a housing shortage; spiralling rents and mortgage arrears, the Dáil was told.

Social Democrat leader, Stephen Donnelly, said the Coalition failed to help people who had been stricken on three levels in their efforts to get a home.

The Wicklow TD said the Government’s only success was the upcoming new law to shorten the bankruptcy period to one year.

“What they are doing is a quarter of what is needed – four years too late,” Mr Donnelly said.

Mr Donnelly said 330,000 people were in mortgage arrears. He said numbers with two years of arrears continued to grow and he accused the Government of “four years of inaction”.

Replying for the Government, Energy Minister Alex White said the country had successfully conquered the worst recession in history and the worst banking collapse anywhere in the world.

“As this Dáil term enters its final weeks and months, it is important to acknowledge that,” he added.

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