The housing crisis

A broken system

Sir, – It was with much chagrin that I read of the Government’s plans to make purchase of local authority housing easier for tenants (“Local authority tenants to have greater chance of purchasing homes under rule changes”, News, January 2nd).

Anyone capable of buying their own home or banking the deposit to do so should not be allowed near social housing. Even at 60 per cent discounted rates most council houses are beyond the reach of the average industrial wage earner. In fact, considering the cost of housing, we are approaching a dystopian socialist nightmare where one is better off on benefits. Should you go straight to the housing list from school you will essentially own, or have a lifetime near zero-cost lease on, a fully furnished home in Dublin city before you are 30. There is no other career path I am aware of that can compete with that. The welfare system is fundamentally broken. – Yours, etc,

SEAN MOONEY,

Raheny,

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Dublin 5.