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,
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.