No help for common good

CAN Mark Keenan please share out the rose-tinted prism he used while reading the latest Government “initiative” on the homeless crisis? (‘Establishment of agency better late than never’, Irish

Independent, September 14.)

We could all do with a lift, even if illusory.

At first glance, the “plan” announced does indeed suggest that, at long last, Fine Gael and partners have finally accepted that the problem is a lack of social houses and that the cure is a Government-led construction programme of such houses on a scale necessary to meet the need.

But then, beyond the hype, we find that of 150,000 units to be built, only 10pc will be earmarked for social houses.

It is obvious Fine Gael remains fixated by the market and is not addressing the core problem at all – the lack of social houses.

It is therefore very easy to forecast that this new agency, just like the likes of the NTPF in the health sector, will simply act as a conduit through which public funds will be channelled into the pockets of private developers and landlords under the pretence that the common good is being served. The common good will not be served by this initiative for the simple reason that ought to be abundantly clear – there is not the will to do so.

The future for many remains grim, if not grimmer, on foot of this latest demonstration by Fine Gael of its absolute determination not to govern for all the people or the common good. Jim O’Sullivan Rathedmond, Co Sligo