Labour councillor and general election candidate for Cork South Central, Laura Harmon, has condemned the Government's failure to tackle the ongoing housing crisis, labelling it "the greatest workers' rights issue of our generation".

According to a report from MyHome.ie, national housing asking prices have surged by 7.5% in the past year, which is the highest annual inflation in two years. Meanwhile, in Cork, the figure is even higher, with prices soaring by 10.5%.

"This report confirms what families and workers across the country already know – the housing crisis is only getting worse," said Cllr Harmon.

"The fact that asking prices in Cork are up 10.5% in a single year is a testament to how badly the Government has mishandled housing.

"Their 'Housing For All' plan has been in place for three years now, but it has utterly failed. House prices are up, homeless figures are up, and evictions are up. The Government has effectively thrown in the towel on housing.

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"They have abandoned an entire generation to soaring rents and house prices while sitting on the sidelines, hoping for the best. This is the greatest workers' rights issue of our generation. Workers across Ireland are locked out of affordable, secure housing, and this report is yet another stark example of that."

She continued: "The Government has consistently chosen to protect vested interests in the property market over the rights of people to have a safe and affordable place to live. We in Labour believe that the solution is clear: The Government must get directly involved in building homes, not just leave it to private developers who are driven by profit, not the public good."

In response to the growing crisis, Cllr Harmon highlighted Labour's Alternative Budget, which proposes transforming the Land Development Agency into a state construction company, with €6 billion in funding to build tens of thousands of affordable homes.

"In Labour's Alternative Budget, we’ve laid out a plan to invest in real solutions – not just promises," she said.

"By transforming the Land Development Agency into a State Construction Company, we can directly build affordable homes for the people who need them most, at the scale required to meet demand.

"Labour is ready to deliver that future by investing in housing solutions that will work for everyone. We will invest in affordable homes and ensure that every worker and family has a place to call home."