Solving the housing crisis

Sir — Your paper (Sunday Independent, July 24) is filled with commentary and opinion on the housing initiative Rebuilding Ireland by Minister Simon Coveney and the Government. I’m glad to see it has been generally well received, albeit with a fair enough assessment of its weaknesses. Nothing is perfect, especially with a complex issue such as this national housing crisis.

Brendan O’Connor states that if the media obsession with Enda Kenny’s demise was refocused on discussing policies that determine the direction our country is going it might be time better spent. This is hugely ironic from a journalist in your paper since it’s the Independent group that is relentless in its pursuit of FG and Enda Kenny.

Colm McCarthy has an insightful article on the many serious issues surrounding the whole housing problem, including what he terms the elephant in the room — the cost of land, construction, etc especially in the greater Dublin area.

This in essence is part of the real problems facing this country. The cost of living is way too high and until this is addressed we are going nowhere.

Everything from rents, insurance, utilities, medicines, childcare, general costs and a whole raft of stealth taxes are crippling people and making life unbearable for so many.

What does it take for the penny to drop that this is where the Government must focus its energies? Not tinkering with it, but really and meaningfully bringing down the cost of living. Lowering taxes and abolishing the USC will not do it.

Then maybe this vicious and insidious inequality that is fostering so much discontent might be addressed and we can get back to being a decent caring and equal society. Mary Cleary Dublin