THE MINISTER FOR Higher Education is not happy with Sinn Féin, after leader Mary Lou McDonald reportedly objected to a student accommodation development in Cabra.

When questioned by Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan on student housing at an Oireachtas committee on Wednesday, Minister James Lawless turned the issue back around on the opposition, saying they’ve been “inconsistent” in their views.

Lawless was contrasting the views of some Sinn Féin party members with recent reports that McDonald sought to block new student accommodation being built in her neighbourhood 
BreakingNews.ie reported that the joint objection with Councillor Seamus McGrattan states that the site in Cabra has been vacant since 2016 the proposal doesn’t address the housing needs of the area.

“Sinn Féin believes that this site should be used to deliver the affordable and social homes that are so badly needed in the local community,” they wrote.

Labour Party TD Marie Sherlock has also reportedly objected.

Higher Education Minister James Lawless has taken issue with the objection, saying it is inconsistent with other comments by Sinn Féin.

When questioned by McGettigan on the topic of student accommodation, Lawless told her to “speak to your party leader”.

He said he’s written to her twice about the matter but has yet to receive a response.

“I think we all have to be consistent on this, and I think it’s disingenuous to come into a committee grilling me, rightly, about student accommodation and then your party leader is objecting to student accommodation,” he said.

“To me, that’s an inconsistent position.”

He said McGettigan was “in support” of the latest McDermott housing report, which recommended successive rent hikes on students, while her party colleague Eoin Ó Broin previously spoke out against it.

McGettigan said: “Is this debate not for me to ask you questions?

Lawless said: “It’s for me to reply as well.”

McGetting said Lawless was “going on the attack” in response to questions.

“I haven’t even had the courtesy of a response from Deputy McDonald,” he said.