Building land prices must be controlled
The problem of the national housing list is now so acute that many see homelessness as the best way to improve their chances of getting a local authority house.
A recent analysis by the Department of Environment on the availability of zoned and serviced land shows an abundance of land which could be used for housing.
It is unacceptable that landowners can intentionally hoard land for the purpose of trying to control the market price. Land which is zoned as residential must be put on the market as soon as possible.
Whether this can be achieved by way of compulsory purchase or through a range of taxation measures is a matter for the Government.
The price of building land has to be controlled strictly through a landbank purchased by local authorities at agricultural prices.
We need massive emergency investment in local authority housing. The suffering of people living in overcrowded conditions must be alleviated. We must put people before profit and implement a proper housing policy.
Cllr Noel Collins
St Jude’s
Midleton
Co Cork
