Sir, – With the recent discovery of 26 per cent extra economic growth in 2015 and taking account of EU restrictions on national debt, it should be possible for the State to fund directly a massive building programme for social housing, instead of relying on an expensive combination of rent subsidies, public-private partnerships, leasing, off-balance sheet mechanisms and other devices outlined in the Rebuilding Ireland report. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN FLANAGAN,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – The action plan for housing and homelessness published by the Minister for Housing Simon Coveney provides a comprehensive blueprint for tackling the acute housing crisis.
As the report acknowledges, the volume of families and children affected by the crisis is unprecedented, and the recommended actions are thorough and thoughtful.
Barnardos was particularly encouraged to see the sense of urgency has been captured as immediate interventions are required; every week the number of people affected by the housing crisis increases, and it is heart-breaking to see the escalating number of children’s lives blighted by the crisis.
Of particular note are the targets included, for example to aim to end the use of hotels as emergency accommodation for families by summer 2017, the introduction of free transport for families living in emergency accommodation, and the prioritisation of children in homeless accommodation within the School Completion Programme for services such as breakfast and homework clubs. It would be great to see this extended to children living in unstable, overcrowded and substandard accommodation and who are at risk of homelessness too.
While the report contains a slew of ambitious and positive measures, the most difficult part is always implementation.
While the housing and homelessness crisis has loomed large over the past couple of years, the number of children and families homeless or living in substandard housing has only increased. We must be mindful that until this report becomes a reality, the dire circumstances of children living through the housing crisis will not change. – Yours, etc,
JUNE TINSLEY ,
Head of Advocacy,
Barnardos,
Christchurch Square,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Congratulations to Simon Coveney for bringing the housing plan out promptly. Solving the crisis is the key task facing this Government. We’ve got a reasonable plan. Now let’s see some action. – Yours, etc,
KAY HAYES,
Limerick.
Sir, – It really irks me to see the same old solutions trotted out. A grant of any sort to first-time buyers will only push up prices in a market with tight supply.
We need to encourage more apartment living, in properly built apartments, with good facilities for buyers. We need to look at those who were first-time buyers 10 years ago and are stuck in unsuitable accommodation for their current needs but are unable to move due to inflexible mortgages, negative equity and other reasons. We need to look at the cost of initial builds, and the amount of tax which is paid on these properties, thereby pushing construction costs up. We need to look at improving transport links so those that would like to live further out are able to do so with an easy commute.
These are all issues which are pertinent to solving the problem. Throwing more money at first-time buyers will bring the the same issues at higher prices. Obviously we’ve forgotten that the higher they go, the harder the fall. – Yours, etc,
NIAMH BYRNE,
Fairview, Dublin 3.