The Tánaiste is standing by plans for a housing Tsar.
The appointment of the CEO for the new Housing Activation Office will be put through a public appointment process.
This comes as NAMA Chief Brendan McDonagh's withdraws from consideration.
It follows backlash over McDonagh's reported 430k salary and questions around transparency.
Tánaiste Simon Harris today said that he agrees with proposals for the new Housing Activation Office.
This is despite major criticism of the role from opposition.
Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín spoke to the Ireland's Classic Hits Radio Newsroom today:
"It's clear that the government's housing Tsar plan is now in chaos with Brendan McDonough withdrawing from the role.
It shows that the government is completely tone deaf, 430 thousand euros for a job that the Minister for Housing himself should be doing.
I think that the Minister for Housing is putting up the white flag, admitting that he hasn't got the technical ability to be able to do the job that he was tasked to do.
The Minister is trying to create a mudguard to deflect from negative criticism around the housing crisis."
Mr Tóibín went on to say that the Government is going backwards:
"There is deep frustration around the country. The government is going in reverse in terms of the housing crisis.
The government is a record-breaking government for all the wrong reasons.
Record house prices, record rents, and record numbers of people who are homeless currently.
We need the government to get the grips with this issue themselves instead of trying to
outsource to work to others for such inordinate wages."
