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ECONOMISTS HAVE WARNED that social housing in Ireland is ‘at a crossroads’, and that ‘ambitious action’ is needed to create a more cost-effective and stable system.
The National Economic and Social Council has developed what could be the answer to this, outlining steps the government could take.
In a new report, the organisation looks to tackle several problems stifling the sector in Ireland right now.
These range from a lack of supply in local authorities due to borrowing constraints, state exposure to rising private rents, and low-income tenants being unable to secure housing, resulting in a risk of overcrowding and homelessness.
The Government has already stated that a strategy for social housing will be developed for the sector, as outlined in it’s a strategy for the construction sector.
“The central challenge is to create an effective and interconnected combination of finance, supply and cost rental,” director Dr Rory O’Donnell said.
He argued that “experience strongly suggests that these connections will not be established automatically or by providing incentives to uncoordinated private or public actors. Instead NESC believes new institutional arrangements are necessary to move policy in this direction”.
The report considers how ‘low cost competitive finance could be provided to fund the quantity and quality of housing required, and in such a way that it does not add to government debt’.
Second, it examines” how renting could be made more affordable and attractive and by extension how this could stabilise Ireland’s wider housing sector”, where it looks to Europe for models of cost rental.
Third, it argues there needs to be “more direct public policy influence on housing supply and urban development”.
Last week a major new study into how the stability of the private rented sector can be ensured was announced by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).
It followed a request from Minister of State for Housing Jan O’Sullivan to conduct a study into the sector to gauge what policies would be appropriate.
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Yes 2021 here and 1690 for some up north.
No screw the UK we need to stop letting them dictate how we run things, they will be the ones who look ridiculous enforcing a different timezone for the smaller region on the island.
Endless summer time sounds fantastic!
@Ian McNally: knowing them they’ll choose endless winter.
@Ian McNally: Portugal and Spain gave 2 different time zones, so what? no big deal.
@Ian McNally: Portugal and Spain gave 2 different time zones, so what? no big deal.
@Gus Sheridan: have 2 ……..
Time to get rid of it
@Dick Face: only the planters and the nuts.
@DartMcCart: And what about the other 78 people ?
If EU changes, UK will change too. 80%+ of UK citizens are in favour of getting rid of the biannual time change.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: I’m in favour of the biannual time change
The energy savings argument was always been rather tenuous. Germany introduced the change in 1916 in the probably mistaken belief that it would help reduce energy use, the U.K. followed suit not wanting to let Germany get the upper hand in war preparations and Ireland was instructed to follow suit. We didn’t even get to have an opinion. Farmers were bitterly opposed which is interesting because you often hear that they are the reason the clock changing tradition must be kept.
1916 in Dublin would be 1690 in Belfast and 1776 in Washington DC.
We are part of Europe or not simply!!
@Dizzy: not please
No one cares about Norn Iron leave them to it
@Stevie Doran: Really?! No one at all. Are you certain of that?
We’ll be the same as Belfast for half the year
There is already two time zones in Ireland.
CET and Healy Ray’s Dark ages.
Our politicians are good at manipulating figures, I’m sure they’ll figure something out.
We should change the two economic zones as well
Another chance for those living in Ulcer land a chance to say No.
I’m definitely leaving Ireland if we won’t change with the rest of Europe. The U.K. Will make up their own minds anyway!!!!
Ah the poor government! Won’t bother them too much! It’s the workforce that pays their alarm calls who are going to feel it!
How can these cowards not even make the simplest decisions without someone holding their hand. Daylight savings time is an archaic ritual, the reasons for which have long since stopped being relevant. Who cares if NI keep it, it’s not as if we won’t be able to function. Not only do they want a team of consultants holding one hand but they want the brits holding the other. We’re doomed if this lot ever have to deal with a crisis situation, the country will fall apart around them while they ask consultants and focus groups what would be a popular course of action.
I’ve living in places where this is normal, like Australia and parts of the US. Everyone seems to be missing the bonus here – you can drink until last orders and then hop a taxi and five minutes later drink for another hour until last orders again.
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