Year ends in abject failure on homelessness front

SIR,

SIMON Coveney launched his ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ plan almost three years ago. In his address he said ‘if others control scarcity in terms of land supply, they control the market . I want the State to ensure that does not happen.’

Move time on and judge the success of his plan.

Houses are unaffordable for most especially in Dublin, where the jobs are. Commuting is a sad way to hold down a job.

You really are living to work and not working to live. Many workers can’t get a mortgage because of insufficient income to match the price of the property or because of contract work, which is a ‘no no’ as far as bank managers are concerned. The homeless situation in getting worse month by month. What kind of Christmas will these people have ?

The government say they are building thousands of houses. ‘Building’ is a loose term in government speak.

Giving public land to private developers is okay by Fine Gael, although vast land banks are already in the hands of speculators. These private developers will then use the gift of public land to build some private, some affordable and some social housing. The trouble is the affordable houses are generally not affordable and the percentage of social housing is very small. We already gave a gift of public money to private banks. What is this love affair between the government and private sector? Hedge funds are buying up thousands of houses as soon as they come on the market and renting them to captive house-hunters.

They get tax breaks in doing so. If you buy your own home you don’t get similar tax breaks .

Co-living is another ‘great’ government idea which is a variation on student accommodation, a pack-more-intothe-box-idea.

The government have lots of ideas but the would be homeowners are losing out because they pay a fortune for less or just buy a house for wealthy landlords.

The housing assistance payment scheme is also enriching landlords. That money should be invested in building social and affordable housing by local authorities.

Many European countries have successfully tackled housing in ways very different to our politicians. Should we not see how success works and scrap the failed plan?

If it can obviously be done better, why are we not doing so?

Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capucin day centre and Fr Peter McVerry have given the government’s plan an ‘F ‘.

These men should be listened to as they have their ears to the ground and know what they are talking about.

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy survived a no confidence motion in the Dáil last week. Fianna Fáil helped him over the line.

What chance have we got after the next election that the housing situation will improve if both of the main parties are of like mind?

This year finishes like most years; total failure in housing our citizens.

Health? There’s another sad story.

They say we get the politicians we deserve, but when choice is limited and controlled, what chance have we? Sincerely,

Gerry Cournane, Tralee.