Plan based on a new tenancy and financing model for public housing
Friday 16 May 2014,Dublin.
Eamon Ryan, Green Party leader and MEP candidate for Dublin, this morning setout an alternative to the failed housing strategy currently advocated bygovernment.
Speaking this morning, Ryansaid: "The Government is getting the response to the growing housing crisis inDublin wrong. What we need is a massive increase in public housing, rather thanthe misguided mortgage support scheme that they have come up with. We cannotrely on the old model of state or bank funding for new public housingdevelopments. The Green Party is proposing a range of new financingoptions which could deliver the housing needed.
"With long-term interestrates at a historic low we can fund, build and rent public housing in a waywhich provides a fair return to everyone. We can develop a more a unified modelwhere the majority of social housing tenants pay a rent which covers the costof those loans. Those in financial difficulty can be helped to make the rentpayments, instead of the current system where rent allowances go to the privaterented sector.
"To make it happen wewill need flexibility in Brussels on the rules regulating state borrowing. Wewill need to invest some of our pension funds in this area and we will needNAMA to take on a new planning and development role that insures it is a socialas well as economic success.
"We also have to make surethat new housing goes in the right place. There is a huge bank of zoneddevelopment land both inside and outside the capital. We cannot afford for thesprawl of the city to continue. Given the absence of a proper regional planningstructure or a directly elected Mayor for Dublin, the National Transport Authoritymust play a role in deciding which areas are going to be developed first. Areasclose to the city centre and to public transport links have to get priority, orour whole city will choke. We have one chance to get this right. There is nosign the government is able to do it. The people must send them a message atthis election that their housing plan is wrong, and they need to go back to thedrawing board.
Local election candidate forthe north inner city, Ciarán Cuffe, said today: "Housing needs to be seen moreas a right than a commodity. We need a fundamental review of our housing policyfrom top to bottom. Families should not be left living in sub-standardconditions for ten years; Local Authorities need to start treating theirhousing clients with respect; Security of tenure needs to be enshrined as acentral aspect of the rental market.
"In the NineteenthCentury Michael Davitt and the Land League sought the "Three Fs" -Fair Rent, Fixity of Tenure and Free Sale (of leases) for tenants. None ofthese are fully realised in the modern property market supported and encouragedby this government."
Local election candidate forCrumlin - Kimmage, Sandra Dunne, said: "Homelessness is expanding into thewider society - 1,600 people are sleeping rough or in emergency shelters; a 50%increase on last year. This problem is now affecting those who previously couldmanage.
"Families are living incramped conditions with no security of tenure which is leading to familybreakdown. Increasingly, landlords are refusing those who qualify for rentallowance. We need adequate support and regulation for the social housingsector.
"This is a housing crisis, asocial crisis and a disgraceful situation that reflects on all of us."
ENDS