The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has described the Government’s new Housing Plan as “old wine in a new bottle”.
Responding to the publication of the plan Congress Campaigns Officer for the Raise the Roof Campaign Paul Gavan said
“Overall, this plan is a huge disappointment.
“There are some welcome elements, notably the additional funding for the Land Development Agency, and extra money for conversion of shop premises. But the radical reset that the Housing Commission called for 18 months ago – and that ordinary workers badly need - has not been delivered by this plan.
“There are no proposals to protect tenants from No Fault evictions, no radical expansion of the Tenant in Situ scheme, which was one of the better innovations of the last government.”
“The €100 million funding to buy second hand properties to support the exit of families longest in homeless emergency accommodation is welcome but stands in stark contrast to the €700 million gifted to the hospitality sector in last month’s budget. Just where do the Government’s priorities lie?”
“But what’s even more concerning is the failure to significantly increase targets for social and affordable housing.
“Housing For All” promised but failed to deliver 9,500 social homes per year. The new plan raises this to just 12,000, when it is widely recognised that a minimum of 20,000 Social Homes is what is required.”
“Only last week, we saw the prices for new ‘affordable’ homes in Dublin 7, with a minimum salary requirement of €56,000, when the average wage in Dublin is €49,000. What does it say when our affordable homes are on unaffordable on the average wage?”
“Only the state can provide housing that is affordable to those in housing need. Affordable homes, whether for purchase or for rent-should track construction costs, not market prices.”
