Most Vulnerable at Risk

Eddie Hobbs spoke today, May 7th, at the Respond! National Conference in Naas, Co Kildare and claimed the most vulnerable members of Irish society were the victims of “Bertonomics”. Hobbs contends it was the underprivileged who suffered during the Celtic Tiger and that the worst is not yet behind us. Food inflation, falling property prices and cuts to social welfare payments will continue to make the headlines in the coming months.
Respond! spokesperson John Hannigan agrees with Hobbs assessment of the Irish economy and calls on the Government to be flexible and imaginative in dealing with the recession, particularly the property sector.
“We heard today of a ‘poxy’ property market that will not return to growth until 2014. Respond! believes that social housing is one method of restoring the ailing construction sector that spiralled out of control in the past ten years. While property prices grew to more than eight, nine and in some cases ten times an individual’s salary, Government ignored all warnings of a crash. Instead, they continued to stimulate the private property market to the detriment of social housing and failed to put in place an integrated housing policy. This comprehensive national policy is absolutely necessary to guide residential development in the future, and to avoid the inequalities that are so prevalent in Irish housing today.”
Respond! claims that for years they have been advocating for a National Housing Policy that would take account of all the housing needs of all people, across all social classes. The housing charity maintains that successive governments have refused to engage in the task, instead putting in place piecemeal policies. Respond! believes there is no lack of regulation, simply a lack of vision.
“Respond! contends that the retraction of social housing provision at this time is the wrong route to choose. Prices are cheaper, tenders are more keen and there is a huge need for construction employment. We disagree with the Minister’s appraisal of an average house costing €200,000, Respond! can produce high quality homes for 25% less than this amount. Tender prices for constructing homes are at 2004 levels and falling so we believe now is the time to invest in social housing in order to stimulate the construction sector” added Hannigan.
Respond! calls on all people to make these concerns doorstep issue when visited by their canvassing candidates for the local and European elections. “Until the Establishment start to address the lack of housing policy and inequalities in our social services provision, there will be no improvement for those who are most vulnerable in our society. There are sufficient resources available at the Government’s disposal to make a significant difference on these issues. What is required is imagination and leadership says the housing charity, a sentiment echoed by Eddie Hobbs”concluded Hannigan.