Munster says local state land must be used

A call has been made for the government to “step up to their responsibilities and ensure that state land is used to provide social and affordable housing”.

Sinn Féin TD for Louth and East Meath Imelda Munster is demanding action in the wake o three reports on residential construction costs, which were published by the Department of Housing

They compared construction costs in Ireland with comparable countries in Europe, the impact of new construction guidelines for apartments as well as other issues such as land costs and how state lands could be used to deliver housing. “These reports confirm what we already know, that the market cannot deliver genuinely affordable housing, and state-owned land must be used to deliver homes”, said Deputy Munster. “The Department’s report, ‘Review of Delivery Costs and Viability for Affordable Residential Development’ recognises that the cost of land is a major problem, and that state land should be better utilised for residential developments.” She pointed out that In Louth alone, there are 53 acres of council-owned land banks which she says have been ‘sitting idle for years, while the housing crisis rages.

“I have asked the Housing Minister on numerous occasions to ensure that funding is released to the council to get moving on a social and affordable building programme, but nothing has happened”, she added.