MAJOR resources are needed to tackle the housing crisis head on.
MAJOR resources are needed to tackle the housing crisis head on.That’s the opinion of Limerick Fianna Fáil TD, Niall Collins, who was reacting to the publication of a new report by the Dáil Committee on Housing and Homelessness.
Deputy Collins, who is the party spokesman on jobs, enterprise and innovation, says major resources are needed to realise the goals set out in the report and that more energy and focus needs applied to the problem.
A wide range of measures to tackle the housing crisis were outlined in the report including a proposal to build 50,000 new social housing units, measures to achieve rent certainty and a realistic plan to help families in mortgage arrears.
“Achieving the target of 50,000 new social housing units will require approximately €2.4bn in additional spending over the next four years. The Government needs to start prioritising spending above and beyond the commitments made through the previous Social Housing 2020 Strategy,” Deputy Collins explained.
“Off-balance sheet spending will have to be utilised to achieve this. Fianna Fáil prioritised spending on housing in our manifesto and we will continue to press the Government to release the necessary funding to adequately address the housing crisis.”
However, according to Deputy Collins, funding is not the only problem the Government needs to overcome.
“Outstanding problems with the planning process must be tackled to help kick start housing construction. Fianna Fáil will be bringing forward robust legislation based on the proposals contained in this report to achieve this. Our legislation will focus on developing strategic infrastructure to accelerate housing development and help avoid planning bottlenecks.”
by Alan Jacques
