20% less social housing now than 25 years ago

THE number of new local authority housing units to be completed this year is one-fifth less than it was 25 years ago, according to Threshold.

The national housing organisation highlighted the decline in social housing over the past quarter century at a ceremony in Dublin yesterday to mark the silver anniversary of its establishment in 1978.

Even taking into account 500 new units built as part of the Ballymun regeneration programme this year, the number of new local authority homes would be 21% less than in 1978, said Threshold chairperson, Aideen Hayden.

She claimed the real decline over that period was even greater than such statistics would suggest, due to the continuing sell-off of local authority housing. Ms Hayden said such a decline warranted a comprehensive review of county councils’ policy to sell off a large number of their own housing stock.

She also pointed out that while Ireland’s population increased by 14% over the past 25 years, the stock of local authority housing rose by just 4% over the same period.

“Social rights are accepted, supported and protected in this country such as the right to education or a person’s right to appropriate medical attention in an accident or emergency situation in hospital,” said Ms Hayden.

“The right to secure, affordable, appropriate and sustainable housing should be given the same status.”

Housing Minister, Noel Ahern said the Government viewed supply as the key factor in addressing pressures in the housing market.

The Minister said housing policy, including the provision of more social and affordable housing, was having an effect in combating such problems.

Threshold, which provides advice to over 20,000 people annually, welcomed the recent publication of the Residential Tenancies Bill 2003 as a “long overdue enshrining of basic principles on a statutory basis.”

Threshold believes the legislation will have a significant impact and it claims the need for such a bill was never more acute as housing demand and affordability had forced many people, who would otherwise be home owners, into renting.

A major report entitled the Irish National Survey of Housing Quality published last week highlighted how 28% of private housing tenants paid over one third of their income on accommodation, compared to just 6% of mortgage holders.

Ms Hayden said the problem was compounded by the lack of enforcement by local authorities of minimum standards in private rented accommodation. According to Threshold, over half of such properties surveyed fall below official standards.

A decision by the Government to cap rent supplement levels had also forced many tenants to top up officially declared rents by significant amounts even though it left some people short of basic necessities like heat, clothes and food, said Ms Hayden.