Major change in State policy

HOUSING waiting lists have increased massively over the past few years as a result of the housing crisis and a change in the State’s approach to providing local authority housing.

The waiting list is an estimated 98,000, up from just 56,000 in 2008. Local authority housing has fallen from 4,986 completions in 2007, to less than 300 last year. While voluntary and non-profit housing bodies are being encouraged to pick up the slack, they built just over 2,000 in 2009, but this fell to little more than 100 last year.

The Irish Council for Social Housing says their sector manages up to 27,000 homes, while local authorities social housing stock is around 130,000 following years of sell-offs and now accounts for 8.7% of social rental accommodation. Government policy is to encourage housing organisations and rely on the private rental sector — the indications are that it now accounts for 20% of dwellings.