Call for spending on social housing

The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) today called for increased spending on social housing, saying that it should be prioritised as an investment that offered "an economic and social return".

“For every 1,000 units built we can sustain over 1000 jobs in construction activity which provides an economic return to the exchequer, savings on welfare payments as well as preventing a housing crisis," said ICSH Executive Director Donal McManus.

“With social housing waiting lists increasing to over 56,000 households, now is not the time to stop spending on social housing.”

The ICSH "is gravely concerned that the most vulnerable people in our society who lost out in the boom years will be trod on in the downturn", the association said in a statement.

"However by investing in key areas such as the Capital Assistance Scheme, which provides housing for the elderly, disabled and homeless, social and economic gains will be made and this opportunity will not be lost."