A chara, - The announcement from the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, of a series of measures aimed at alleviating the housing crisis is a case of far too little, far too late. The plans are a classic buck-passing exercise by the Government, which seems to be prepared to do everything except the one thing it should be doing - building more local authority houses.
Compelling property developers to set aside one-fifth of all development land for social housing seems like a good idea on the face of it, but considering the apoplectic response from the Irish Home Builders' Association, they will challenge it all the way to the Supreme Court, leaving those on local authority housing lists waiting, and waiting.
These and many other issues related to housing will be aired at the 33rd annual convention of NATO - the National Association of Tenants' Organisations - at the Mansion House, Dublin, on Sunday, October 3rd. - Is mise,
Sean O Cionnaith, National spokesperson, National Association of Tenants' Organisations, Meath Place, Dublin 8.