Housing package may be part of budget

A housing package that would address the shortage of new homes and boost employment is being considered as part of the budget to be announced next week.

The Tánaiste Joan Burton said she hoped to see investment in social housing, which could result in a “win-win” situation.

She was speaking after the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) recommended that the €500m gathered through water charges should be used to build social housing instead of cutting income tax.