Government’s social housing plans fall well short, warns Labour

THE Government’s plans for social and affordable housing fall well short of meeting society needs, it was claimed yesterday.

Eamon Gilmore, the Labour Party’s environment spokesman, said the five-year plans would not even fulfil recommendations from the Government’s own strategic planning unit.

“The provision of adequate affordable homes for the thousands of people who are priced out of the Irish property market should be the number one priority of this Government,” the Dun Laoghaire TD said.

The Labour Party said the €6 billion spending package in the five-year plans drawn up by 17 local authorities was insufficient to meet the needs outlined by the National Economic and Social Council.

The NESC report estimated that €1.4 billion per year or an additional €500million - €600mper year more than existing capital expenditure was needed to meet social housing requirements. The council outlined that an increase of 73,000 social housing units, which are owned and managed by local authorities or co-operatives, would be necessary between 2005 and 2012.

The Government funding is available for subsidised housing, covering accommodation rented to tenants from local authorities and aid for voluntary housing areas.