Housing for All plan

Sir, – You report that an estimated 27,500 new construction workers will be needed to meet the targets set out in the Government’s new house-building programme.

Given the persistently low intake of school-leavers seeking to enter apprenticeships, the recruitment target could prove very difficult to achieve.

– Yours, etc,

TADHG McCARTHY,

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Bray, Co Wicklow.

Sir, – In its plan to increase housing supply, the Government has missed an opportunity to launch a regional strategy that would move jobs and people to areas where it is easier to supply housing.

While the nation celebrates the population of the State rising to pre-Famine levels, here in Co Donegal, the population of 161,000 compares to 255,000 in 1851.

It is estimated that including vacant sites, unused holiday homes and semi-derelict houses, there is a 20 per cent “oversupply” of housing in the county.

We have reasonable broadband, a good skilled workforce but dreadful transport links, so while manufacturing is “out”, research and development and homeworking are feasible.

A regional strategy would deliver housing at a far cheaper cost than the Government currently envisages in Housing for All, and demands that we pay for in our taxes.

– Yours, etc,

KENNETH HARPER,

Burtonport, Co Donegal.

Sir, – If the Housing for All plan succeeds we’ll have an additional 300,000 homes by 2030. If the Climate Action Plan succeeds we’ll have deep retrofitted 500,000 homes, also by 2030. With a record 84,000 CAO applicants for college places, who is going to do all this work? – Yours, etc,

JOE DUNNE,

Shanakiel, Cork.