Challenges lie ahead – as do opportunities
THERE was some good news on the housebuilding front this week – construction in 2017 was up by 52% to 36,000 units. That is a start, but still nowhere near enough to meet demand; and that is why the housing and homelessness crises will continue to dominate the political agenda in 2018.
A new year offers the chance to refocus efforts on solving this problem. No modern democracy, especially a country as wealthy as Ireland, can stand over the fact that 3,000 children spent Christmas in temporary accommodation.
Great strides have been made to ensure that rough sleepers have hostel beds, if they want them. But the attendant issues of addiction and mental health must be brought into the mix and treated holistically – not in isolation or, as is so often the case, not at all.
For those who want to buy houses but who remain trapped in the vortex of low incomes and high rents, increased supply will hopefully have a positive impact upon prices. The only welcome effect of the recent rise in property values is that couples trapped in small apartments with young children might finally escape negative equity – but they still have to find somewhere that they can move to.
This is the main challenge we face in the new year, but it is far from the only one.
Despite the headway earlier this month, Brexit still poses huge challenges.
While it is good to see the Government’s resolute defence of our interests, we must maintain good relations with Britain. Through trade, culture and family, we are inextricably linked and no sabre-rattling should jeopardise that.
Equally, we must tread carefully when debating the repeal of the Eighth Amendment on abortion. Those on both sides of the argument have strong personal views, often informed by experience.
When this most emotive of issues is placed before the electorate in May or June, we must hope it does not split family and friends the way it did in 1983.
On a global scale, we still must worry about the re-emerging threat of nuclear conflict. The easily bruised egos of two powerful men cannot jeopardise millions of lives. While the threat to Ireland is minimal, the consequences for the world are too grotesque to contemplate.
Closer to home, the migrant crisis must be handled better and efforts to combat climate change must be redoubled by others, now that the United States has turned its back on the Paris Accord.
It is not all gloom, of course. Next year, we will be visited by Pope Francis. He might receive a smaller and different welcome than that afforded to Pope John Paul II in 1979, but it will be no less warm.
And despite our failure to qualify, we have a World Cup to look forward to and the Winter Olympics too. These are events that display the very best of us as humanity, of all races and creeds, as we strive to compete fairly and show that we still can wave our own flags, while appreciating that we are part of a global family.
On a more personal note, we wish you, our readers, and your own families the greatest gifts of all – health, happiness, and homes to call your own.
Happy New Year to you all.