Social housing: fresh thinking needed

IT is good to see Fianna Fáil and the PDs express concern about housing affordability.

However, I disagree with the assertion by the Minister for Housing, Noel Ahern, that there are many affordable homes in Dublin and that mortgage interest rate increases have been painless for borrowers.

We in the Green Party believe a number of actions are now required.

* The Kenny report recommendation that the State be allowed purchase lands at 25% over their agricultural value should be fully implemented.

It is immoral that rezonings in the Shankill area of Co Dublin increased the value of lands from €2m to €200m.

The State should have been able to purchase those lands for €2.5m and build affordable homes.

* The 20% rule for affordable and social housing in new developments should be reinstated.

Martin Cullen filleted this legislation while he was Minister for the Environment and it is failing to deliver the numbers of homes promised.

* Property-based tax reliefs should be removed because they fuel the housing market. These reliefs are allowing many people to avoid income tax and they do little to help first-time purchasers.

* Abolish stamp duty for older people trading down, thus freeing up more family-type housing units.

Many older people do not wish to move from larger homes to ones more suitable to their needs because the State claws back a large proportion of this tax through stamp duty.

Fresh thinking is required urgently to face the affordable housing challenge.

Perhaps a change of government and a rest for the current office-holders would allow for a new approach on this crucial issue.

Ciarán Cuffe TD

Green Party Housing

Spokesperson

96 Patrick Street

Dun Laoghaire

Co Dublin