For Peta Scott, 54, a healthcare worker and mother of four, housing woes meant it was “a challenge” for her children to stay in Ireland.
In north Dublin, Deric Sweeman, a 55-year-old truck driver, said he voted for Sinn Fein. “It’s time for a change… Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have had enough to fix it and they have not done it,” he added.
Housing and infrastructure improvements need to be the priorities for the next government, he said.
At the last general election in 2020, Sinn Fein — the former political wing of the paramilitary Irish Republican Army — won the popular vote but could not find willing coalition partners.
That led to weeks of horsetrading, ending up with Fine Gael, which has been in power since 2011, agreeing a deal with Fianna Fail, led by the experienced Micheal Martin, 64.
The role of prime minister rotated between the two party leaders. The smaller Green Party made up the governing coalition.
Harris has had to defend the government’s patchy record on tackling a worsening housing crisis and fend off accusations of profligate public spending.
A giveaway budget last month was also aimed at appeasing voters fretting about sky-high housing and childcare costs.Â
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