Sir, – Most people in Ireland believe that home ownership is to be encouraged and enabled. However, the vast majority of new builds in Ireland are simply not for sale; they are either for social housing or for rental. Every day we read of very large social housing developments receiving approval and of State-funded housing bodies buying, at very high cost, entire apartment blocks directly from developers (who are thrilled to obtain a bulk sale) for social housing or cost-rental.
Most people do not qualify for social housing, however, and so are essentially excluded, unless they continue renting, from living in any of the new apartments or houses being built around them. This is incredibly frustrating for first-time buyers, as is the knowledge that those who will move into some of these homes can subsequently buy them at a colossal discount. Local councillors in Dublin and elsewhere, meanwhile, have reduced the units in housing developments available on the open market to first-time buyers. A question to ask any politician seeking a vote in coming weeks: why are the odds deliberately stacked against average first-time buyers? – Yours, etc,
ANDREW QUINN,
Clongriffin,
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Dublin 13.