A series of measures designed to tackle the housing crisis, including a constitutional right to good quality, affordable housing, has been proposed by the Labour Party, and will be debated at its annual conference at the weekend in Tralee, Co Kerry.
Presenting the findings of its housing commission yesterday, the party's spokesman on the environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said an estimated 135,000 people in the State needed housing.
Among its recommendations the commission says the right to proper affordable housing should be enshrined in the Constitution or in legislation, as was the case in other European countries.
A national strategy for affordable housing, supported by an independent audit committee, should also be established. All residential development should incorporate a minimum of 20 per cent "social housing", with up to 10,000 social units provided per annum to tackle the current waiting lists.