Housing policy must meet social needs

I AGREE with Nuala Nolan’s call for a department of state dedicated to housing alone (Letters, March 16).

I also agree it is disgraceful that we have 70,000 people on the social and affordable housing lists while nothing apparently is being done about it. We are told there are plenty houses that can’t be sold. You would think the Government would buy them and assign two-thirds to the social housing list and one-third to the affordable housing list.

The Government might also commission developers to build some more social and affordable housing. This would have the added advantage of providing building work.

However, I don’t think having a dedicated housing department is sufficient. Two other things are necessary. First, change the building legislation to make it more democratic and move its bias away from the needs of developers and towards the needs of local communities. This might end the multi-storey apartment blocs of unwanted one and two-bedroom units.

Second, housing policy must be determined only by the needs of people and not simply to generate profits for finance houses and developers.

Certainly it should not satisfy those who believe the market must rule and State provision of housing should end thus forcing people to take out a mortgage whether or not they can afford it — which is exactly what led to the subprime mortgage disaster and problems for the whole economy now.

Brian Abbott

Glencairn

Bishopstown Road

Cork