Councillors blamed for house price inflation

WHO are the real beneficiaries of the so-called housing boom? Banks with their 40-year mortgages, developers with their constant building and landowners with the inflated prices being paid for construction sites.

At least the banks and developers do a bit of work for their money. Landowners just go to the local politician and get their property rezoned.

It appears that in their concern for the plight of house-hunters, politicians believe rezoning swathes of land regardless of the amount already designated is the best way to reduce house price inflation. This is flawed thinking. One has only to look at Dublin stretching into neighbouring counties to realise what a failed policy this is.

The stated aim of the Dingle draft development plan is the creation of a compact and accessible town. With this in mind, Kerry County Council zoned over 170 acres for housing. Not content with this councillors rezoned more land again outside the town boundaries.

If councillors are that concerned with providing land at a reasonable cost, isn’t it time to call on the Government to allow local authorities to buy land at the agricultural rate, plus 25%.

Sad to say, landlordism and gombeenism are still alive and well and sustained by our local councillors.

Seán Brosnan

Dingle Sustainable Development Group

Strand Street

Dingle

Co Kerry