Social Housing Need as Bad Now as it was in 1964

In 1964, the housing need in Ireland was 60,000 homes. According to figures released yesterday, December 9th, by the Minister for Housing, Michael Finneran, T.D., the level of need in 2008 is at a similar level, despite twenty years of unprecedented economic growth. Ireland’s largest housing charity contends that the only way to reduce the increasing Local Authority housing waiting lists and stimulate the declining construction industry is through social housing. Respond! Housing Association maintains that the 30% increase in waiting lists could be reduced if the Government increase funding to the voluntary and social housing sector now.

According to Ned Brennan, Respond! Chief Operations Officer:
“It is alarming to think that more than 56,000 families or about 150,000 people are in urgent need of accommodation. However, these people can be helped if the Government acts now and increases funding to voluntary housing providers. This is the best time to invest in social housing as excellent value for money can be achieved. At present, we are experiencing tender prices that are below the 2006 level,
a phenomenon not seen in the Irish Construction Sector for the past decade.”

Respond! has provided more than 4000 homes throughout Ireland and are currently constructing another 800 units of accommodation. The housing charity contend that they could double their current annual output if the Government increased funding. In 2008, Respond!’s construction price for a three-bed family home was approximately €165,000 (excluding site cost). The housing association is able to achieve these costs due to their own in-house planning and design department.

“At a time of greatest need, social housing provision in this country is at its lowest. The Government need to commit resources in order to deliver on the 44,000 social and affordable homes promised by 2009” added Mr Brennan. “If our elected representatives are serious about helping the 56,000 families on housing waiting lists then they need to act now and invest in the sector. Increased production of social housing will not only help curtail rising unemployment in the construction sector but it will also help decrease the number of people availing of social welfare assistance. In addition, there will be an increase in tax revenues for the Government” concluded Mr Brennan.

The housing charity also maintain that if the Government fails to act, the number of families on Local Authority housing waiting lists will continue to rise dramatically. With house repossessions reaching alarming proportions, there is nowhere for these families to turn if Local Authorities cannot meet their housing needs.